Bitumen Membranes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 To 2025

Global bitumen membranes market is anticipated to grow over the forecast period on account of increasing demand in the roofing industry. Bitumen membranes are designed to provide protection to commercial and residential buildings. They are made of organic liquids, which are highly viscous, sticky, and waterproof. Bitumen membranes are used as a roofing system on nearly flat or flat roofs to avoid any leakage and to shift water off the roof. Bitumen membranes are used for widespread applications including damp-proofing, waterproofing, sealing, rust-proofing, joint and crack filling. They have various application types including APP, SBS, and SEBS. APP (Atactic Polypropylene) modified bitumen is a type of plastic asphalt which forms a uniform surrounding substance within the asphalt. Asphalt increases bitumen’s performance by increasing its flexibility at low temperatures and resistance towards harmful ultra-violet rays. APP modified bitumen sheets are usually applied using a propane-fueled torch. Applicators lubricate the modified bitumen by using heat on the base of the sheet. The bottom surface of the sheet becomes a molten adhesive, which easily flows upon the substrate and cools down to form a waterproof adhesive bond. Some APP sheets are also applied with the use of cold-process adhesives. SBS (Styrene- Butadiene- Styrene) on the other hand is a type of elastic asphalt which improves the resistance power of bitumen towards weathering and aging and provides it with rubber like characteristics. The Increasing demand for roll roofing is the key driver responsible for the growth of the global bitumen membranes market. Underlayments made from bitumen membranes are increasingly used for the construction of shake, shingle, and tile steep-slope roofs. Bitumen felt underlayment is prepared by saturating inorganic or organic felts with oxidized or straight-run saturant. These products are expected to augment market growth over the projected period. These membranes are modified and utilized for preparing various other roofing products such as polymer modified bitumen membranes and oxidized bitumen membranes.

Polymer modified bitumen membranes are prepared by integrating thermoplastic polymers with oxidized or straight-run bitumen and a mineral filler. The mixture is coated by a polyester mat or a fiberglass. Waterproofing systems made by these products comprise of polymer modified bitumen sheets with a fundamental base sheet. These sheets are laminated together at the construction site. In Europe, when compact roof systems are built polymer modified roof membranes are applied onto the temperature resistant insulation boards. Oxidized Bitumen membranes are prepared by coating a fiberglass with a mixture of limestone mineral filler and oxidized bitumen. The mixture obtained is packaged in rolls as a finished product. In North America, these products are made with a mineral granule surface and are called roll roofing. In Europe, oxidized bitumen membranes are used as parts for roofing products such as clay tile or slate roofs. Bitumen membrane roofing offers various advantages over common flat roofing methods of gravel and asphalt. In gravel and asphalt applications, it is very difficult to form proper seals at all connection points and seams. This results in early leakage of roofs and involves high maintenance costs. Their repair and maintenance process is difficult also since it is hard to locate the exact points of leakages. Bitumen membranes roofing system on the other hand finds it easier to locate these points and rectify it efficiently. This factor is expected to drive the bitumen membranes market growth over the forecast period.

North America and Europe are the largest markets for bitumen membranes owing to the vast array of bitumen products used in the major roof systems of these regions. Key players present within the global bitumen membranes market include Shell Bitumen, Exxon Mobil, Valero Energy Corporation, Icopal, Bauder group, and Nynas AB. Shell Bitumen markets its brand Shell Flintkote which is a segment of waterproofing bitumen membranes designed to provide protection to commercial and residential buildings. Shell Flintkote products are used in various applications including waterproofing wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets. It is also used for waterproofing metal roofs, concrete structures, ironworks, and steelworks. Bauder group is a Europe based company engaged in manufacturing water-proofing membranes and offers a wide range of styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) modified bitumen based solutions for different projects. They aim at producing products with strong aging & weathering resistance along with low temperature flexibility to match the North European climatic conditions. Bauder’s products include bitumen underlayers, capping sheets, and vapor control layers.