Global Scans · Advanced Materials · Weekly Summary

• [New] In composites and construction, CNT demand was around 2,000 tons in 2023 and is projected to grow to 7,000 to 10,000 tons by 2032 as concrete, asphalt, and composite resins begin incorporating CNTs for strength, durability, and EMI shielding. State of the Future
• [New] The CHIPS and Science Act's $52.7 billion investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing is expected to create more demand for high-purity electronic-grade polymer encapsulants, underfills, and substrate materials as new U.S. fabs reach full production during the forecast period. Custom Market Insights
• The carbon fiber landscape for 2026 will be defined by multifunctional composites, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and greater accessibility. Forte Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber Tubing Manufacture
• Waste polymer gasification combined with CCS could reduce climate change impact below most fossil-based hydrogen routes. PatSnap
• The 5600 will support HP 3D High Reusability PA 12 Glass Beads, enabling the production of stiff, dimensionally stable parts at a low cost while further broadening the range of applications customers can address with HP's polymer additive manufacturing technologies. AZOM
• Waste polymer gasification plus CCS could reduce climate change impact below most fossil-based hydrogen routes. PatSnap
• Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have uncovered a path to design superionic polymer electrolytes for solid-state batteries and other energy applications that could help ensure a future of abundant and reliable energy for the United States. AZOM
• Researchers around the world are focusing on unlocking the potential of polymer electrolytes because they have a lot of advantages over the conventional liquid electrolytes. AZOM
• Material Sovereignty: Building orbital infrastructure will require leadership in advanced materials - lightweight, radiation-shielding textiles and composites that enable larger, more efficient structures in low Earth orbit. ETV Bharat
• The successful fabrication of carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK composites via fused deposition modelling highlights their potential for advanced biomaterial applications in bone regeneration and tissue engineering. SpringerLink
• Airbus is analysing the potential of using carbonfibre reinforced polymer material in the tank construction as a further weight-saving change. FlightGlobal
• ASTM International's additive manufacturing technologies committee is developing a proposed standard that will allow manufacturers to maximise the strength and quality of parts produced using the polymer additive manufacturing extrusion process. TCT Magazine
• The integration of AI in material processes is expected to drive efficiencies in the aerospace sector, fostering the development of lightweight yet robust composites. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• General Thoughts: Relatively calm US polymer prices in 2025 masked upstream cost volatility, shifting risk into margins and working capital, setting conditions for sharper, producer-led price transmission and earnings dispersion in 2026. C-MACC
• Additive manufacturing will accelerate its mainstream adoption as a production technology in 2026, with polymer AM taking a central role in tooling, service parts, and an expanding range of end-use components. 3D Printing Industry
• The environmental fallout is already visible: sprawling piles of fiberglass composites scarring the West Texas landscape, posing risks to soil, water, and wildlife. Energy News Beat
• The prize-winning initiative, a collaboration between Airbus, Daher, Tarmac Aerosave and Toray Advanced Composites, shows that a pathway to industrial-scale repurposing for certain types of composite materials could be possible. Airbus

Last updated: 31 May 2026