The polymer composites market encompassing end use industries such as automobiles, household appliances, and wire and cable has been largely depressed for the past 12 months, following reduced consumption from major end-use applications (IM April ’09, p.53: Auto doom & gloom stalls filler market).
High performance fillers used in polymer composites have also been subject to reduced demand, affecting consumption of a number of filler minerals including calcium carbonate (ground and precipitated), carbon black and talc.
Reducing cost
FiberLink, the newest calcium carbonate range from Imerys subsidiary Performance Minerals, addresses this lower demand by targeting polymer producers seeking to reduce costs in...