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The Chemistry Behind Electrification, Decarbonization, Data Centers and Clean Water

Mobility Foresights Chemicals & Materials Research | Hub Analysis | September 2026

Specialty chemicals are sold in small volumes but determine whether much larger systems work. A flame retardant decides whether a battery pack passes safety testing. A catalyst decides whether sustainable aviation fuel is economic. A membrane decides whether a desalination plant meets its energy target.

Three forces are reshaping the sector:

• Regulation. Proposed EU-wide PFAS restrictions, HFC refrigerant phase-downs and biocide rules are forcing reformulation across many product lines.
• Decarbonization. Hydrogen, carbon capture, sustainable fuels and green ammonia all depend on new catalysts and industrial gases.
• New end markets. Electric vehicles and AI data centers have created demand for thermal management fluids, dielectric materials and ultra-pure chemicals.

This hub brings together 98 Mobility Foresights market studies across eight areas: flame retardants; polymer additives, fillers and pigments; catalysts; industrial gases; chlor-alkali, bromine, intermediates and solvents; surfactants, antifoams and biocides; refrigerants and thermal fluids; and adsorbents, membranes and separation media.

Key Takeaways

• PFAS restriction is the largest reformulation event in decades. It affects flame retardants, refrigerants, coolants and processing aids simultaneously.
• Catalysts are the enabling technology of the energy transition. Hydrogen, SAF, renewable diesel and green ammonia each depend on catalyst performance and cost.
• Industrial gases are becoming decarbonization infrastructure. Carbon capture, low-carbon ammonia and hydrogen supply are reshaping the gas business.
• Data centers are a new specialty chemicals market. Immersion coolants, thermal interface materials and ultra-pure water chemistry are growing quickly.
• Separation media underpin water and hydrogen. Membranes, adsorbents and ion-exchange resins are shared technology across desalination, gas purification and electronics.

How We Segment Specialty Chemicals

1. Flame Retardants

Flame retardants are being reformulated on two fronts: away from halogenated chemistry in many applications, and toward the specific requirements of electric vehicles and energy storage. Four reports cover the halogen-free shift:

• Our flame retardant additives market report sizes the category.
• The low-smoke halogen-free additives market study covers low-smoke halogen-free systems, required in rail, marine and building cables where smoke toxicity is a safety issue.
• The halogen-free cable compounding additives market report covers cable compounding.
• The fluorine-free fire retardants market study covers fluorine-free chemistry, a direct response to PFAS restrictions.

Application-specific and reactive systems:

• The electric vehicle control unit flame retardant market report covers flame retardants in EV electronics, where thermal runaway risk sets demanding standards.
• The fire-retardant foams market study covers foams used in construction and transport.
• The reactive flame retardants market report covers reactive types that bond into the polymer backbone rather than being blended in, reducing migration and leaching.

2. Additives, Fillers and Pigments

Recycled plastics need additives to restore properties lost in reprocessing, making this one of the fastest-growing additive segments. Four reports cover it:

• The additives for recycled plastics market and specialty additives for recycled plastics market reports cover additives for recycled content, at the general and specialty level.
• The chemical recycling performance enhancers and decontamination additives market study covers additives used in chemical recycling processes.
• The polymer stabilizers and antioxidants market report covers stabilizers that protect polymers during processing and service life.

General additive markets:

• The polymer additives market and functional additives for plastics market reports cover the broad additive market.
• The functional additives and modifiers market study covers property modifiers.
• The low-VOC and renewable feedstock polymer additives market report covers additives made from renewable feedstock.
• The thermosetting resin additive market study covers additives for thermosets.
• The synthetic polymer wax market report covers polymer waxes used as processing aids.
• The bio-based dispersants market and bio-based waterborne rheology additives market studies cover bio-based dispersants and rheology modifiers for coatings and inks.
• The specialty additives for adhesives and sealants market report covers adhesive additives.

Fillers and pigments:

• The high-value functional fillers and pigments for polymers and coatings market report covers functional fillers and pigments.
• The specialty silica and advanced fillers for e-mobility market study covers silica and fillers for electric vehicles.
• The surface-engineered silica for energy-efficient tire compounds market report covers the silica used in low-rolling-resistance tires, which improves both fuel economy and EV range.
• The carbon black for tire reinforcement market study covers carbon black.
• The titanium dioxide pigments market report covers TiO2, the most widely used white pigment, subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny in some applications.
• The high-purity silanes and surface modification chemicals market study covers silanes used to bond fillers to polymers.

3. Catalysts

Catalysts make reactions possible at practical temperatures and yields, so they largely determine whether a clean-energy process is economic. Five reports cover hydrogen and clean fuels:

• The hydrogen production catalysts market and low-carbon hydrogen production catalysts market reports cover hydrogen catalysts, including the platinum-group metals used in electrolyzers.
• The sustainable aviation fuel catalysts market and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) catalyst market studies cover SAF catalysts, where mandates such as the EU's ReFuelEU blending requirements are creating demand.
• The renewable diesel catalyst market report covers renewable diesel.
• The bioethanol catalyst market study covers bioethanol.
• The catalysts for low-carbon fuels market report covers the category as a whole.

Carbon and nitrogen chemistry:

• The catalysts for carbon capture, utilization and conversion market report covers CCUS catalysts.
• The green ammonia and low-carbon nitrogen chemistry catalysts market study covers green ammonia catalysts.
• The ammonia synthesis catalyst market report covers conventional ammonia synthesis.
• The methanol synthesis catalyst market study covers methanol, increasingly of interest as a shipping fuel and hydrogen carrier.

Refining, petrochemicals and emissions:

• The petrochemical catalysts market report covers petrochemical catalysts.
• The hydrocracking catalyst market study covers refining hydrocracking.
• The olefin polymerization catalyst market report covers polymerization catalysts that determine polymer properties.
• The next-generation automotive emissions control catalysts market study covers vehicle catalytic converters.
• The VOC oxidation catalyst market report covers industrial VOC abatement.

Process efficiency and specialty catalysis:

• The energy-efficient chemical manufacturing catalysts market report covers catalysts that reduce process energy.
• The catalysts for bio-based chemical intermediates market study covers bio-based chemical production.
• The organometallic catalysts market report covers organometallic catalysts used in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

4. Industrial Gases

Industrial gas companies have become central to decarbonization projects because they already own the infrastructure for handling hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Five reports cover the segment:

• Our industrial decarbonization gases for steel, cement and chemicals market report covers gases used to decarbonize heavy industry, including hydrogen for steelmaking and oxygen for oxy-fuel processes.
• The carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) industrial gases market study covers CO2 capture, transport and use.
• The low-carbon ammonia and derivatives supply market report covers low-carbon ammonia, a leading hydrogen carrier for long-distance transport.
• The industrial gas solutions for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production market study covers gases in SAF production.
• The cryogenic and air separation unit (ASU) optimization market report covers air separation, the energy-intensive core of industrial gas supply.

5. Chlor-Alkali, Bromine, Intermediates and Solvents

Chlor-alkali is one of the most energy-intensive chemical processes and produces chlorine and caustic soda together, so their markets are linked. Six reports cover the family:

• The industrial caustic soda market report covers caustic soda.
• The electronic-grade caustic soda market study covers ultra-pure grades for semiconductor manufacturing.
• The industrial-grade chlorine derivatives market and specialty chlor-alkali derivatives market reports cover chlorine derivatives.
• The hydrogen chloride and derivatives market study covers HCl and its derivatives.
• The bleaching chemicals and derivatives market report covers bleaching chemicals used in pulp, textiles and water treatment.

Bromine and specialty intermediates:

• The high-purity bromine derivatives market report covers bromine derivatives.
• The specialty brominated intermediates for electronics manufacturing market study covers brominated intermediates for electronics.
• The industrial and specialty acid derivatives (phosphoric, sulfuric) market report covers acid derivatives.
• The high-purity industrial intermediates market and industrial chemical intermediates market studies cover intermediates at high-purity and general grades.
• The acetyl intermediates and sustainability-linked chemical feedstocks market report covers acetyl chemistry.

Solvents and green chemistry:

• The bio-based solvents and green reaction media market report covers bio-based solvents replacing petroleum-derived and restricted solvents.
• The deep eutectic solvents market study covers a newer class of low-toxicity solvents used in extraction and metal processing.
• The butyl glycol ether market report covers a widely used industrial solvent.
• The solvent-free and reactive processing chemicals market study covers systems that avoid solvents altogether, reducing emissions and drying energy.

Bio-based and lower-carbon chemistry:

• The low-carbon and bio-based industrial chemicals market report covers the broad category.
• The bio-industrial feedstocks for chemicals, materials and sustainable packaging market study covers renewable feedstocks.
• The bio-circular feedstocks and mass-balance certified specialty chemicals market report covers certified circular chemicals.
• The biotech-enabled specialty ingredients and renewable solvents market study covers fermentation-derived chemicals.
• The lignin-derived chemicals market report covers chemicals from lignin, a large by-product of pulp production.
• The energy-efficient process chemicals and manufacturing additives market study covers chemicals that reduce manufacturing energy.
• The US–Iran war impact on petrochemical feedstock supply shortage market report models how conflict in the Middle East could disrupt feedstock supply and pricing.

6. Surfactants, Antifoams and Biocides

Surfactants are core to cleaning and personal care, and consumer preferences have shifted toward milder chemistry. Four reports cover them:

• Our specialty surfactants for personal care and home care market report covers specialty surfactants.
• The sulfate-free surfactants market study covers sulfate-free formulations, driven by consumer demand for gentler products.
• The dishwashing ingredients market report covers dishwashing formulations.
• The potash derivatives for detergents and clean formulations market study covers potassium-based detergent ingredients.

Antifoams and process aids:

• The food grade antifoam and defoamers market and industrial grade antifoam and defoamers market reports cover defoamers for food and industrial processes.

Preservation and microbial control:

• The industrial preservatives and biocides market report covers industrial biocides, a category under tightening regulatory review in Europe.
• The specialty biocides for cooling tower systems market study covers cooling-water treatment, important for both equipment protection and Legionella control.
• The low-leach preservatives for consumer products market report covers preservatives designed to minimize migration into skin and food.

7. Refrigerants and Thermal Fluids

The HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment and regional F-gas rules is forcing a transition to lower global-warming-potential refrigerants. The next-generation HFO refrigerants market report covers HFO refrigerants and the tension between climate performance and the PFAS classification some of them face.

AI data centers have created a new thermal chemicals market:

• The fluorinated coolants for immersion data center cooling market report covers immersion coolants.
• The fluorinated thermal interface materials market study covers thermal interface materials between chips and heat sinks.
• The specialty chemicals for data centers market report covers the wider chemical demand from data centers.
• The specialty additives for EV and AI data center thermal management market study covers additives used in thermal management for both EVs and data centers.

8. Adsorbents, Membranes and Separation Media

Separation technologies underpin clean water, industrial gases and electronics manufacturing. Four reports cover water treatment:

• Our water treatment and desalination membrane materials market report covers desalination and water-treatment membranes, where energy efficiency is the main competitive measure.
• The alumina and mineral-based water treatment media market study covers mineral treatment media.
• The powdered activated carbon market report covers activated carbon, widely used for removing organic contaminants including PFAS.
• The chelating resins market study covers resins that capture specific metal ions, used in water treatment and metal recovery.

Gas separation and purification:

• The gas separation, adsorbents and membrane-adjacent materials market report covers gas separation materials.
• The membrane and adsorbent materials for industrial gas purification market study covers industrial gas purification.
• The gas purification adsorbents market report covers purification adsorbents.
• The oxygen molecular sieves market study covers molecular sieves used in oxygen concentrators and air separation.
• The hydrogen economy enabling additives and adsorbent materials market report covers materials for hydrogen purification and storage.

Industrial and electronics separation:

• The microporous polymer films for industrial filtration and separation market report covers microporous filtration films.
• The ion exchange resins for semiconductor water systems market study covers the resins that produce the ultrapure water fabs require.

Where Value Is Created: The Specialty Chemicals Value Chain

Regional perspective

• Europe. The strictest regulation and the origin of the PFAS restriction proposal, with high energy costs pressuring chlor-alkali and gases.
• United States. Advantaged feedstock and strong investment in hydrogen, CCUS and SAF catalysts.
• China. The largest production base for additives, intermediates and chlor-alkali, and increasingly for catalysts.
• Middle East. Low-cost feedstock supporting petrochemicals, ammonia and emerging low-carbon hydrogen projects.

What to Watch Through 2032

1. PFAS restriction scope: which uses receive exemptions and for how long.
2. Electrolyzer catalyst loading: reducing platinum-group metal use to cut hydrogen costs.
3. SAF mandates: blending requirements driving catalyst and gas demand.
4. Data center chemicals: growth of immersion coolants and thermal interface materials.
5. Biocide re-registration: European reviews removing active ingredients from the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are flame retardants being reformulated?

Regulatory pressure on halogenated and fluorinated chemistry, combined with smoke-toxicity requirements and the specific demands of EV batteries, is driving a shift toward halogen-free, fluorine-free and reactive flame retardants.

How do catalysts affect the energy transition?

Catalysts determine the efficiency, selectivity and cost of hydrogen production, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, ammonia and carbon conversion. Improving them, and reducing precious-metal content, is central to making these processes economic.

What is driving demand for industrial gases?

Beyond traditional industrial uses, decarbonization projects need hydrogen for steel, oxygen for oxy-fuel combustion, and CO2 capture and transport, making industrial gas companies key infrastructure providers.

Why are data centers a specialty chemicals market?

High-density AI servers require immersion coolants, thermal interface materials and ultrapure water chemistry, creating demand for specialty fluids and materials that did not exist at this scale before.

What are HFO refrigerants?

Hydrofluoroolefins are refrigerants with much lower global warming potential than the HFCs they replace. Their adoption is driven by the Kigali Amendment and regional F-gas regulations, though some face scrutiny under PFAS rules.

What are chelating resins used for?

Chelating resins selectively bind specific metal ions, allowing removal of heavy metals from water or recovery of valuable metals from process streams and recycling operations.

What do Mobility Foresights chemicals reports include?

Each linked report provides market size and multi-year forecasts, technology and feedstock analysis, segmentation by product, application and region, competitive landscape and company profiles, and recent developments. Customization is available on request.

Work With Mobility Foresights

Mobility Foresights provides syndicated and custom research across specialty chemicals, catalysts, industrial gases and separation technologies. Each report linked above can be purchased individually or tailored to a specific chemistry, application or region. To request a sample or commission a bespoke study, contact our chemicals and materials research team.