Hydrophilic Coatings Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Substrate (Polymer, Metal, Glass & Ceramics, Nanoparticles), By End-User Industry (Automotive, Optics, Marine, Medical Devices & Equipment, Others), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

The hydrophilic coatings market was valued at US$12.121 billion in 2021.

Hydrophilic coatings are specialized and protective barriers designed to attract and retain water content and moisture. They are particularly useful in applications where the surface needs to be damp or soaked in water or other liquids to facilitate an evenly spread application across a surface to improve the performance and durability of the product by simultaneously enhancing the ease of cleaning and maintaining such surfaces. Hydrophilic coatings are applied across polymer, metal, glass & ceramics, and nanoparticle substrates used in the automotive, optics, marine, medical devices & equipment, and other industries. The increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly coatings is expected to increase the demand for hydrophilic coatings as hydrophilic coatings are often water-based and contain fewer volatile organic compounds than traditional solvent-based coatings. Further, the development of hydrophilic coatings using new materials and coating technologies to improve properties such as enhanced lubricity, biocompatibility, and durability is driving the growth of the hydrophilic coatings market.

Market Drivers:

• Rising demand from the automotive sector

Hydrophilic coatings are extensively adopted in the automotive sector across various automotive components such as brake pads, rotors, and other metal components to improve their performance and longevity by reducing friction and improving lubricity. They aid in extending the life of these components by reducing the need for repairs and replacements. In addition, hydrophilic coatings can also be used on automotive glass to improve visibility in wet conditions due to their anti-fog properties, which help to prevent water from beading up on the surface of the glass, reducing the probability of glare occurrence and improving road visibility. The expanding consumption of vehicles manufactured by the automotive sector is expected to increase the consumption of hydrophilic coatings across this sector. For instance, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers reported that the aggregate annual production of vehicles by the Indian automotive industry increased from 2,30,40,066 units in March 2022 to 2,59,31,867 units in March 2023.

• Developments in hydrophilic coating technology

The developments in hydrophilic coating technology fueled by the growth in solar panel coating technology are expected to promote the demand for hydrophilic coatings due to the rising demand for solar energy. For instance, in March 2022, Photowatt, a French company manufacturing PV cells, and Axcentive, a chemical company in France, collaborated to launch a new super-hydrophilic coating product with photoactive nanotechnology and self-cleaning properties to be applied across solar modules to prevent the scattering of light during rains. In addition, scientists at Chiang Mai University developed a new super hydrophilic coating with anti-reflective, photocatalytic coating, and anti-soiling properties to increase the yield of commercial solar panels by 6% through titanium wires. The advancements in nanotechnology are further leading to the innovation of new hydrophilic coatings. For instance, in February 2023, Nanovue, a nanotechnology company in Australia, introduced a new multifunctional hydrophilic nanocoating with self-cleaning properties to prevent algae growth and reduce surface debris across solar glass. The rising consumption of solar panels and systems driven by the high demand for sustainable and the recent coating technology developments to be used across solar systems are expected to stimulate the demand for hydrophilic coatings over the forecast period.

By end-user industry, the medical devices and equipment segment is anticipated to increase its market share prominently.

Hydrophilic coatings are extensively used in medical devices and equipment, such as catheters, guidewires, and stents, to improve lubricity and reduce friction during insertion and use. The increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries and medical procedures results in a high demand for hydrophilic coatings in the medical industry. Further, the relative superiority of hydrophilic coatings over non-hydrophilic coated lubricants due to their antibacterial and biomedically safe qualities and the simultaneous advantage of cost-effectiveness and multifunctionality driven by its anti-infection properties is increasing its consumption across medical equipment and devices.

The availability of substitutions like hydrophobic coatings and certain regulatory issues could restrict the market's growth.

Substitute coating technologies such as hydrophobic coatings could be applied across vehicle glasses to prevent the raindrops from blocking the view, limiting the widespread consumption of hydrophilic coatings. Further, the development and use of hydrophilic coatings in certain applications, such as medical devices, could be subject to regulatory approval, resulting in delays and additional costs, leading to restricted market growth.

Market Developments:

• In March 2021, Lumendi Ltd., a UK-based medical company producing different endoscopy equipment, declared the launch of a new hydrophilic coating, EZ Glide, to be used across endoluminal devices commonly used as endoscopic applications. 
• In April 2022, Biocoat Inc., a US-based company specializing in hydrophilic coating technology and biomaterial coatings, introduced a new production line, EMERSE, to facilitate the use of hydrophilic dip coating equipment systems on medical devices. 
• In February 2020, Biocoat Inc. introduced a new hydrophilic coating product, HYDAK UV, driven by bi-laminar technology used in its thermal heat cure coating to facilitate a flexible merge of UV coating systems based on industry standards. 

Asia Pacific holds a substantial market share of the hydrophilic coatings market and is expected to grow in the forecast period.

The growth in medical equipment and optics production across major Asian nations is expected to drive the hydrophilic coatings market in the region. For example, the IBEF revealed that the aggregate value of medical devices manufactured in India in 2021 amounted to US$12 billion. Further, countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are also witnessing an expanding healthcare and medical equipment sector. For instance, Chinese medical equipment imports to India amounted to Rs.63,200 crore in 2022, which increased by 41% from its value of Rs.44,708 crore in 2021.

Hydrophilic Coatings Market Scope:

Market Segmentation:

• By Substrate
  • Polymer
  • Metal
  • Glass & Ceramics
  • Nanoparticles
• By End-User Industry
  • Automotive
  • Optics
  • Marine
  • Medical Devices & Equipment
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Taiwan
    • Others