Metal Biocide Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Metal Biocide Market is Segmented By Type (Zinc, Copper and Alloy, Silver), By End-User (Paints and Coatings, Food & Beverages, Pesticides, Medical, Textile, Others), By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2023-2030

Metal Biocide Market Overview

The global metal biocide market is expected to reach at a high CAGR during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Biocides, also known as antimicrobial additives, are used in formulations to keep bacteria from spoiling paint during storage. The common types of metal biocide include silver, copper, zinc and its alloys. Silver biocides are utilized in an ever-increasing range of products, including water treatment, fibers, dyes/paints and varnishes, polymers, washing machines, medical applications, sinks and sanitary ceramics and various 'consumer' applications such as disinfectants, baby bottles, cosmetics, cleaning agents etc.

Copper has been utilized in clinical settings to lower the risk of bacterial and viral contamination, complementing traditional protocols. Furthermore, adding copper nanoparticles to polymer/plastic matrices can produce highly effective antimicrobial materials. Cu and Cu-based NPs such as Cu2O and CuO have adequately shown anti-bacterial effects in lesser amounts but a toxic effect in large amounts. In contrast, one of the World Health Organization reports suggests a sufficient intake of Cu to be approximately 1–1.5 mg/day.

Copper is an important micronutrient for all living organisms, including plants and it acts as a cofactor for enzymes involved in respiration and electron transport proteins. At the same time, Cu serves as a broad-spectrum biocide at higher concentrations because of its interaction with nucleic acids, interference with the energy transport system, disruption of enzyme active sites and the disruption of the integrity of cell membranes. Several inorganic Cu formulations have been invented and used as biocides to contain plant pathogenic bacteria, oomycetes, fungi and in some instances, invertebrates and algae.

Metal Biocide Market Summary

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Metal Biocide Market Dynamics

The global metal biocide market is expected to boost with rising demand for antifouling paints.

Rising demand for antifouling paints

Paint components are vital in giving this emulsion the correct texture and stability, but water-based paints are prone to microbial attack and should not be overlooked. As a result, developing a new formulation that would reduce or stop paint deterioration owing to microbial activities was a huge issue for paint makers. It led to the usage of biocides as a paint additive to prevent microbial attacks and extend the paint's shelf life. Microbial problems were common in the marine industry and they were also a problem in bulk paint storage. Biocides in paints are a breakthrough in the painting and coating industry because they prevent undesired chemical and physical changes in the paint.

Antifouling paints are used on the outer layer of ship hulls to control the settlement and growth of aquatic organisms. When a ship enters seawater, organic molecules stockpile on its surface and a biofilm settle on the organic molecules within hours. Since the prohibition of tributyltin in antifouling paints, numerous alternative biocides have been introduced to control the settlement and growth of marine organisms on ship hulls. Zinc pyrithione is one of the most often used alternative biocides in antifouling paints.

The ability of active biocide ingredients used in antifouling bottom paint to impede biofouling growth on boat hulls is of global economic concern, given the rising costs of repairing damage caused by invasive species, particularly in coastal waters fouling nutrients are concentrated. The site-specific fouling pressure determines the antifouling coating's effectiveness at the vessel's operating location, the biocide utilized in the formulation and ita release rate from the painted surface to the surrounding water. Cuprous oxide-based coatings have been utilized for at least a century and they are used on an estimated 90% of the vessels globally having biofouling control coatings on their hulls. Likewise, multiple manufacturers have repeatedly tested copper-based antifouling paint for efficacy in hundreds of coatings formulations.

Strict regulations on the use of biocide

Generally, ships' antifouling paints have included some form of biocide – tributyltin, copper, co-biocides. Biocides are strictly controlled by international and national regulations such as the BPR in Europe. Under the Biocidal Products Regulation, the EU has developed an environmental risk assessment that products must pass before entering the market. The tool measures environmental concentrations based on release rates of biocides from the paint surface to the aquatic environment for pleasure craft marinas in 4 regions.

Each region has distinct acceptable threshold levels due to different water exchanges in its marinas. Baltic marinas are most liable to accumulating biocides and are subjected to the lowest acceptable levels, followed by the Mediterranean, Baltic Transition and Atlantic. In the EU, two methods are currently approved for predicting biocide release rates from paints: a calculation method and a laboratory method. However, as these are thought to overestimate biocide release in real-world scenarios potentially, fixed correction factors may be applied in product assessment.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The metal biocide demand has witnessed a decline from some of its end-user industries, such as paint & coatings. The last two years have not been promising for the global paints & coating industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this has not stopped the new investments and capacity expansions in the paints & coating industry. However, the use of metal biocide has increased in healthcare and disinfectant applications. Copper in diverse formats has been used in research & clinical settings to reduce the bacterial and viral contamination risk. The utility of silver and copper biocides in the medical industry is already proven. Silver and copper-based biocides are used to coat medical devices to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi for a long time.

The effectiveness of silver nanomaterials as anti-viral agents has been confirmed in humans against different viruses. Nanobiocides-based AgNMs are effectively applied to eliminate coronaviruses as the cause of different diseases in animals and humans, particularly fatal human respiratory infections. The NMs act effectively against CoVs, because of the fundamental anti-viral structures like reactive oxygen species and photo-dynamic and photo-thermal abilities.

Metal Biocide Market Segment Analysis

The global metal biocide market is segmented based on type, end-user and region.

Significant applications in consumer products and medical devices will boost the demand for silver biocides market

The global metal biocide market is segmented into zinc, silver, and copper & alloys based on type.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are commonly used biocides to destroy bacteria and viruses in consumer products and medical devices. The biocide releases bio-available Ag(I) ions, creating long-acting biocides. Nevertheless, AgNPs are released quickly from the product, limiting their action over time. In addition, AgNPs are sensitive to various chemical environments that can direct their transformation, thus decreasing their activity. Although useful, the widespread use of AgNPs can cause bacterial resistance and health safety problems, requiring innovation in safer products for humans and the environment.

In 2020, CEA-Irig researchers developed a Safer-by-Design concept for nanomaterials. It consists of silver nanoparticle assembly merged by a bio-inspired molecule that binds to the surface of the nanoparticles through its 3 thiol functions. The result is a nanomaterial that releases Ag(I) ions in a controlled and slow manner, in contrast to the AgNPs currently used as biocides, which undergo uncontrolled transformation and product release processes. The developed AgNP assemblies establish a scaffolding that shields the nanoparticles from massive transformations induced by numerous environmental conditions. Furthermore, the architectures do not control the release of Ag(I) but only slow it down, delivering a nanomaterial that can be considered a promising new, safer biocide.

All assemblies have anti-bacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The latter is especially interesting since AgNPs are not active against this type of bacteria, particularly due to their capacity to modify the surface of nanoparticles. Moreover, no toxicity from AgNP assemblies was marked when exposed to a human hepatocarcinoma cell line. AgNP assemblies possess the broad-spectrum biocidal activity and its cytotoxicity for eukaryotic cells is lower than that of AgNP alone. Their low sensitivity to the environment makes them a long-lasting biocide whose risks to the environment and humans are considerably reduced compared to the current technologies.

Metal Biocide Market Geographical Share

Metal biocide market share is expected to increase with rising demand from food processing and paints & coating industry in Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the metal biocide market during the forecast period. The growing demand for metal biocide from paints & coatings, with rising population and construction activities in developing countries like India and China, is expected to drive the metal biocide market demand. China's demand for Industrial Coatings has grown fast in the past decade. In the next decade, production and demand will continue to grow. Barring 2020 and 2021, the Indian paint sector has doubled. The country's paints & coating industry is poised to grow healthy in the medium and long run.

In the last few decades, the need for “ready to eat” and “ready to use” food dramatically expanded in the region, consequently increasing the necessity of the companies to produce minimally processed food attractively and hygienically. The urgency of controlling foodborne diseases required acceleration in developing antimicrobial food packaging. The packaging releases active biocide substances to improve the quality of the food, extend shelf life and prevent spoilage.

Several manufacturers have developed a range of surfaces containing biocides that have begun to appear in health care settings. The surfaces are often based on metallic ions such as silver ions. Several recent studies have been performed on the re-introduction of metallic surfaces, e.g., copper for door handles and manipulated objects. While some studies demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of copper surfaces, their actual impact is difficult to ascertain compared to other currently used surfaces.

Metal Biocide Market Companies

The global metal biocide market is fragmented, with several brands available locally and globally. Players in the market include LANXESS, Clariant, Troy Corporation, BASF SE, Milliken Chemical Company, DOW, Lonza, Noble Biomaterials Inc., SteriTouch Ltd, and Renaissance Chemicals Ltd, among others.

The players in the market are known to incorporate numerous market strategies to achieve growth in the global metal biocide market; these include product launches, mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations.

LANXESS

Overview: Lanxess is a specialty chemicals company based in Cologne. The company is well established globally, with around 14,900 employees in 33 countries. The company’s primary expertise lies in developing, producing, and marketing chemical intermediates, specialty chemicals, additives, and plastics.

The company manages its operating business through 4 segments: Consumer Protection, Advanced Intermediates, Specialty Additives, and Engineering Materials. It includes 11 Business Units, through which the company works with a broad range of applications and markets. As a specialist partner, LANXESS offers solutions to the challenges faced by our customers.

Product Portfolio: PREVENTOL TZ is formed by the dispersion of zinc pyrithione and Thiabendazole. The product is an effective combination of fungicides for protecting gypsum board cartons.

Key Development: In 2021, LANXESS completed the acquisition of the microbial control business from International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. The acquisition will create them the leading global supplier of biocides.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global metal biocide market segmentation by type, end-user, and region and understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the global metal biocide market by analyzing trends and co-development.
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• Type mapping available in excel consists of key products of all the major market players

The global metal biocide market report would provide approximately 53 tables, 45 figures, and almost 207 pages.

Target Audience 2023

• Service Providers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Raw Material providers
• Paint & Coating Companies
• Food Processing Companies
• Education & Research Institutes
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies
• Manufacturers
• Logistics companies