Top 5 Vendors in the Global Optical Brighteners Market

According to the research analysis, the global optical brighteners market is expected to grow at a CAGR of close to 9% during the forecast period. The growth is driven by demand from the developing markets of China and India and from various applications such as the paper, fabric, detergents and soap, and synthetic and plastics segments.

Technavio market research analysts identify the following key vendors:

Akzo Nobel

Akzo Nobel is one of the major manufacturers and suppliers of specialty chemicals, paints, and performance coatings worldwide. The company is one of the leading suppliers of bleaching and performance chemicals for the paper and pulp industry. In August 2010, it filed a patent for aqueous solutions of optical brighteners. Accordingly, it offers surface additives for whiteness improvements by reversing whiteness loss caused due to calcium chloride. The company also published its patent on a process for improving optical properties of paper, in October 2008.

BASF

BASF offers chemicals and intermediates including plasticizers, solvents, monomers, glues, and electronic chemicals. BASF offers optical brighteners under the brand name Tinopal, which is used in numerous applications including clear and pigmented lacquers, paints, molded thermoplastics, films and sheets, printing inks, synthetic leather, ultraviolet tracer, photo processing solutions, adhesives, and fibers. The optical brighteners offered by the company are primarily used in formulation technologies (textile auxiliaries), home care (laundry) and industrial and institutional cleaning (commercial laundry).

Deepak Nitrite

Deepak Nitrite is one of the leading manufacturers in India for sodium nitrite, nitro toluene, and sodium nitrate. The company manufactures full spectrum stilbenic optical brightening agents in its manufacturing unit situated in Dahej, India. The optical brightening agent is predominantly used in various industries such as paper, textiles, detergents, coating and in printing and photographic paper.

Eastman Chemical Company

Eastman Chemical Company offers specialty chemicals and focuses on the production of advanced materials, chemicals, and fibers. The company offers Eastman Eastobrite OB-1 optical brightener with enhanced whitening and brightening effect. Its optical brighteners are used in various applications including brightening polyester fibers, sheeting, and film. Eastobrite optical brighteners are added to textile fibers and plastics to improve the whiteness of the materials.

Huntsman International

Huntsman International designs, manufactures, and markets differentiated organic and inorganic chemical products, globally. The company serves industries such as chemicals, plastics, automotive, furniture, and packaging. It offers monomethyl ethanolamine (MMEA), which is used as an intermediate in the manufacturing of coatings for optical brighteners, transport, pharmaceuticals, and as a fabric softener.