The global market for fluoropolymers is estimated to reach almost $9.5 billion by 2016, with an impressive compounded annual growth rate of 6.5 percent over the next four years. The reason for this growth is the increasing demand for the industrial material over several different end markets.

Fluoropolymers, which could be characterized as a form of industrial-grade plastic, is incredibly versatile in its use, with industries such as automotive, solar, and fuel cells just to name a few. But most consumers are already familiar with fluoropolymers, with one form–polytetrafluoroethylene–sold by DuPont (DD) under the well-known brand Teflon. Dupont, along with Solvay and Daikin account for roughly half the market for roughly half that market. But while PTFE is a relatively mature market, lower volume fluoropolymers could be poised to experience robust demand from various industrial end markets.

In the U.S. alone, the market for fluoropolymer is expected to grow at a compounded annual rate of almost 6 percent to over $3.7 billion. However, the fastest growth in demand is expected to occur in Asia, at a compound rate of almost 8 percent each year.

One company hoping to capture that potential is Poly Shield Technologies, Inc. (SHPR), a fluoropolymer marketing and distribution company that represents an exclusive line of highly developed fluoropolymer products. The company's products have over 20 years of development and testing in the most extreme environments, ranging from oceans to outer space. Its products have been tested by companies and organizations such as NASA, Hess Oil (HES), Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL), AT&T (T), Universal Studios (CMCSA) and Disney World (DIS), in a sense providing validation that it is a superior choice in extreme fluoropolymer products.

Poly Shield's flagship product is the Superior Shield, a protective coating that can be applied to the surfaces of various types and grades of metals to extend their life. The concept is simple to understand. The fluoropolymer coating works as a protective shield that provides resistance to oxidation and corrosion, thereby extending the economic life of any equipments, infrastructure, vehicles, and other surfaces. By doing this, customers ranging from consumers to commercial businesses can extend intervals for equipment replacement as well as the cost savings associated with doing so. The company states that in some applications, the use of its shield product can mean 20 years or more of additional useful operation.

"With countries around the world struggling economically to replace decaying infrastructure from acid rain, ultraviolet rays and weather exposure, who can afford not to protect these costly replacement structures from a similar fate with the simple application of Poly Shield Technologies Products and the superior protection it provides," Poly Shield states on its website.