INDIAN DEMAND SUPPLY SCENARIO ON

ALUMINIUM PASTE

General details

Aluminium paste generally consists of microscopic flake-shaped aluminium particles finely dispersed in an organic-solvent or aqueous-based carrier.

Grades and types of Al paste

Leafing grade

• With leafing-type aluminium pastes, the aluminium microparticles tend to float in the paint or other coating during its application to the substrate, and thus form an array of parallel particle layers at or near the surface of the coated layer, as shown below.

• This facilitates the achievement of a silver- or chrome-like visual effect, but care is necessary in its application and use it may also obscure the visual effects of the pigment or other components of the paint or coating layer.

Grades and types of Al paste

Non-leafing grade

• The flake-shaped microparticles distribute uniformly into parallel layers throughout the paint or coating layer. As a result, the colour effect of pigments or other colouring materials present in the paint or coating remains fully visible from the outside.

Application details

•Asphalt Paints,

•Anti Corrosive Paints,

•Exterior Painting with High Reflectivity & Thermal Resistance,

•Painting Roofing Tiles, Fences Etc.,

•Painting Towers, Bridges, Oil refineries, Tank Vessels

•High Grade Finishing for Toys, Furniture, Stationeries, Fittings

•High Grade Finishing for Automobile Parts,

Application sectorApplication Key functional properties

Paints, coatings

Automobile refinishes Design

Automotive partsDesign, chemical resistance, bonding

Consumer electronicsDesign, chemical and dielectric strength, bonding

Fluoride paints for coil coatings

Design, chemical and weather resistance, bonding

Heat and corrosion resistant paints

Reflection, corrosion resistance, leafing stability

Marine infrastructure Corrosion resistanceGravure and offset printing inks As one of the ingredients

Design, fine-particle, hiding, bonding

Films and coatings for vinyl sheets, fibers, magnetic cards, other products

As one of the ingredients

Design, fine-particle, hiding, bonding

Application in solar cells

Specially developed Aluminum paste is used in bonding of substrate and silicon wafer in solar cell systems.

The market for solar energy systems in India is still very young. The Government is looking to accelerate solar power generation with the aim of generating at least 10% of electricity through solar energy by 2012.

Patent on usage of Al paste in pv solar cellPatent application title Aluminum paste composition and solar

cell element using the same

Inventors Haruzo Katoh Takashi Watsuji

Assignees: Origin: FALLS CHURCH, VA US

Patent application number: 20090250103

Abstract: The aluminum paste composition according to the present invention is a paste composition which is used for forming an electrode on a silicon semiconductor substrate and contains aluminum powder, an organic vehicle, and a plasticizer

Safety issue

In handling and use, it is safer than aluminium powders, which may pose a high risk of fire or explosion, but care is nevertheless necessary due to the flammability of its organic solvent, for Handling and Storage.

Indian production – Period April 2010 to March 2011

Indian production of aluminium pasteAround 6500 tonnes per annum

Indian demand supply scenario – Period April 2010 to March 2011

Domestic demand

Export demand Total demand

Indian production

Gap in supply

6200 1000 7200 6500 700

In tonnes

From discussions with manufacturers and trading houses, it is confirmed that major share of Indian demand for aluminium paste is contributed by paint and coating sector.