Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Latex Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising Usage in the Food & Beverage Sector – Nitrile gloves' composition makes them incredibly adaptable and ideal for the food processing industry since many packaged food companies require line workers to wear latex gloves as they are insensitivity to temperature, and are in compliance with FDA and HACCP certifications for food safety.
• Growing Sales of Electric Vehicles- Since batteries are essential components of electric cars and nitrile butadiene rubber can be used to control dashboard vents and battery temperature, it is anticipated that the need for large-sized seals in batteries will increase as the nitrile butadiene rubber latex market for these vehicles expands. For instance, Global sales of electric vehicles exceeded 9 million in 2022.
• Spiking Usage in the Aeronautical Sector- Nitrile butadiene rubber is used in aeronautical manufacturing to make fuel and oil handling hoses owing to its stability at high temperatures which makes it an ideal material for aeronautical applications.
• Expanding Application in Footwear- A series of unsaturated copolymers of 2-propionitrile known as nitrile butadiene rubber is also used to make footwear and components such as shoe soles.

Challenges

• Time Consuming Production Procedure - Emulsion polymerization is the method used to create NBR, which uses an emulsifier to emulsify hydrophobic polymers. This is a somewhat complex and time-consuming process because many colloidal phenomena work in tandem with free radical polymerization mechanisms to influence the nucleation, growth, and stabilization of polymer particles, which requires proper control and management to ensure product quality. 
• Stringent Regulatory Policies Regarding Emissions and Disposal of Waste
• Fluctuating Prices of Raw Materials such as Butadiene and Acrylonitrile Can Affect the Overall Cost of Production