Quenching Fluids & Salts Market Trends

Growth Drivers

•  Technological innovations in quenching fluids: The most prominent innovation is the formulation of advanced water-based and biodegradable quenching fluids. It provides quicker cooling rates, has a reduced environmental impact, and performs generally better than traditional oils. For instance, in March 2021, CIMCOOL introduced DuBois Quenching Fluids in Europe. The product portfolio has been engineered to the European legislative requirements allowing for improved corrosion protection, longer fluid life, and optimal health and safety features. As sustainable performance continues to be vital, advancement in quenching technologies is supposed to push quenching fluids & salts market growth.
• Increased focus on energy efficiency: Industries continue to cut down energy consumption and operational costs. Quenching fluids with higher thermal conductivities and faster cooling rates make heat treatments far more efficient, generally decreasing overall manufacturing energy consumption. For instance, in July 2021, Castrol launched a new thermal fluid, ON e-thermal fluid. It’s an innovative dielectric fluid made for direct cooling with battery cells. Thus, it will result in improving thermal management and operating conditions. With manufacturers and industries focusing more on energy-saving technologies to meet economic and environmental targets, demand for high-performance quenching fluids will likely increase-that will boost market growth. 

Challenges

• Health and safety concerns: A significant challenge in the quenching fluids & salts market is the inherent health risks the chemical composition of traditional posed by quenching fluids. This calls for safer non-toxic alternatives that have seen increasing demand in industries owing to workplace health risk minimization, in addition to stricter safety regulations. The investment required in R&D to make quenching fluid formulation safer is enormous, therefore, this may deter the market from adopting this innovation as early as it could, increasing production costs.
• High costs of specialized fluids: In the quenching fluids & salts market, especially for small and medium-sized manufacturers, costs pose a vital challenge. Advanced formulations, including biodegradable or customized quenching fluids, are more expensive than traditional ones. This price difference can deter cost-sensitive businesses from adopting these high-performance fluids, despite their potential efficiency gains, long-term sustainability, and superior product quality. Due to this, the adoption of these specialized solutions is not widespread, therefore restricting their growth prospects.