Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines

Market Insights

The ceramic matrix composites market in aircraft engines is estimated to grow from USD 168 Million in 2022 to USD 421.1 Million by 2028 at a healthy CAGR of 14.4% during the forecast period.

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What are ceramic matrix composites(CMCs)?

The Potential of CMCs to Improve Fuel Efficiency and Reduce Emissions in Aircraft Engines:

The airlines’ dire need for fuel-efficient aircraft shows no signs of abating. As pressure for fuel-efficient aircraft continues to mount, ceramic matrix composites (CMC) evolve as they compete with metals for high-pressure and low-pressure applications in aircraft engines.

CMCs are as tough as metals are just one-third the weight of nickel alloys and can operate at 1,300° Celsius. They can withstand extreme temperatures and require less cooling air to be diverted from the thrust. As a result, engines run at higher thrusts. Additionally, engines run hotter, consuming fuel efficiently, and emitting fewer pollutants.

Despite short-term turmoil, the long-term outlook of CMCs in aircraft engines still seems favorable with the recovery in production rates of key aircraft programs such as the A320 neo and the resumption in production of the B737Max. Due to the continuous replacement of nickel alloys with CMCs owing to their advantages like better oxidation resistance at higher temperatures and being comparatively lighter in weight. Further, the market entry of B777X and C919 is likely to act as a catalyst for the market's growth.

The Role of CMCs in the F-35 Program

In 2019, Lockheed Martin delivered 134 F-35 aircraft (491 aircraft since the program's inception) and production is expected to continue for many years, considering the US Government's current inventory objective of 2,456 aircraft and commitments from eight international partner countries and four international. A strong order backlog of F-35 aircraft is likely to drive demand for CMCs in the military aircraft segment in the long run.

Market Dynamics

The market is driven by a host of factors, some of which are noted below

• After a decline in 2020, the global economy experienced impressive growth in post-pandemic developments. 
• The growing population is again positively impacting the demand for air travel, which, in turn, is affecting the demand for flight control systems.
• In the long run, the air RPKs will be over 19 trillion, imprinting a positive impact across the supply chain.
• Political influences & legislative forces are impacting regional market dynamics.
• Increasing load factor has a considerable impact on the entire aerospace industry supply chain.
• Rising aerospace co2 emissions are again compelling airlines to retire their aging aircraft and introduce fuel-efficient aircraft in their fleets.
• Rising air freight tons again create a greater demand for aircraft.

Segment Analysis

Aircraft Trends

The market is segmented based on the aircraft type into commercial aircraft, business jets, military aircraft, and helicopters. Commercial aircraft accounted for a market share of more than 45% in 2022 & is forecasted to remain the largest segment of the market during the forecast period.

The development of CMC parts in the variants of the best-selling aircraft programs, such as the B737 Max and A320neo, is the key growth driver of the market. Additionally, the upcoming variant B777x with five CMC applications in its GE9X engine is likely to further elevate the demand for CMC parts in this segment.

On the other hand, the helicopter segment is estimated to grow at a healthy CAGR of almost 20% during the forecast period.

Application Trends

The market is segmented into shrouds, combustor liners, blades, nozzles, and others. Shrouds occupied a market share of more than 25% in 2022 & are projected to remain the largest application type during the forecast period, driven by their usage in the Leap engines.

Leap engine is certified for the B737 Max, A320neo, and C919 aircraft. CFM International, a JV between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, delivered 1,736 Leap engines in 2019 and has an order backlog of 15,614 engines as of December 2019.

Furthermore, the development of CMC shrouds in upcoming aircraft engines, such as GE9x, would further accelerate the demand during the forecast period. Whereas, Combustor Liner is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 25% during the forecast period. 

All the major applications including combustor liners, shrouds, blades, and nozzles, are projected to witness healthy growth rates during the forecast period.

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Engine Zone Trends

The CMCs market in aircraft engines is segmented as high-pressure zone, low-pressure zone, and engine combustor. The high-pressure zone dominated the market with a share of more than 70% in 2022 and would remain the hotspot during the forecast period.

CMCs are ideal materials as they offer a broad spectrum of advantages at high-pressure zones including a reliable performance at extreme temperatures up to 1,300°C, a significant weight saving compared with nearest rival nickel alloys, and no need for air cooling.

This improves the engine thrust and reduces fuel consumption and emits less pollution. All three zones are likely to witness impressive growth rates in the coming five years.

Component Trends

The market is segmented into static and rotational. Static is expected to remain the dominant and fastest-growing component type in the market during the forecast period. Commercial CMC developments, such as shrouds for the LEAP engine; exhaust nozzles for the F135; and combustor liners, shrouds, and nozzles for the GE9x engine, are static components.

Regional Insights

"North America dominated the market with a share of more than 85% in 2022 & is projected to comfortably maintain its lead in the ceramic matrix composites market in aircraft engines during 2023-2028."

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The market region is driven by a host of factors, some of which are noted below:

• The key CMC players in the region have worked along with government institutions to make sure the commercial viability of CMCs in aircraft engines.
• The region also owns the presence of major CMC parts manufacturers such as GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney.
• The key players are rolling out their dedicated CMC plants in North America to address the surging demand for CMCs.
• In 2019, Pratt & Whitney, a US-based aircraft engine manufacturer, announced its plans to open a new ceramic matrix composites research and development facility in California.
• In March 2018, GE Aviation announced the expansion of the CMC production facility in Asheville, NC, USA.

Asia-Pacific is projected to portray the highest growth during the same period, driven by the upcoming indigenous aircraft by China (C919) coupled with the increasing defense budgets of emerging Asian economies

Segmentation

By Aircraft Type:

• Commercial Aircraft
• Business Jets
• Military Aircraft
• Helicopter

By Engine Type:

• Jet Engine
• Helicopter Engine

By Component Type:

• Static Components
• Rotational Components

By Application Type:

• Combustor Liner
• Shrouds
• Blades
• Nozzles
• Others

By Engine Zone:

• High-Pressure Zone
• Low-Pressure Zone
• Combustor

By Material Type:

• SiC/SiC
• Oxide/Oxide
• Others

By Manufacturing Process Type:

• Melt Infiltration
• Chemical Vapor Infiltration
• Sintering
• Others

By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Rest of the World

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, CMC part fabricators, aero-engine suppliers, and aircraft OEMs.

The following are some of the key players in the CMCs market-

• GE Aviation
• Pratt & Whitney
• Composites Horizons LLC
• Safran Ceramics (previously Herakles)
• COI Ceramics, Inc.
• Rolls-Royce plc
• Honeywell International Inc
• IHI Corporation
• Kordsa Teknik Tekstil A.S. 

Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions: An inorganic growth strategy remains preferred in the market. Several crucial M&As led to several changes in the competitive landscape.

• In 2015, Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) acquired Composites Horizons, LLC (CHI), a USA-based supplier of high-temperature carbon and ceramic composite components, including CMCs, for next-generation aerospace engines. A320neo, B737 MAX, B777X, B787, and A350 XWB are the key aircraft platforms served by Composites Horizons, LLC.
• In 2016, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) at the agreed price of US$ 37.2 billion. A year ago, PCC acquired Composites Horizons, LLC.
• In April 2020, Raytheon Corporation and United Technologies Corporation merged to officially form Raytheon Technologies Corp. Pratt & Whitney, a key player in the CMCs market in aircraft engines is now the part of new Raytheon Technologies Corp.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The year 2019 was challenging for the aerospace industry due to the grounding of the B737 Max, P&W 1100G engine series failure, and delayed deliveries of upcoming aircraft programs. However, the impact of these challenges was negligible on the CMCs market for aircraft engines.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has further triggered the industry’s plight with the reduction in aircraft demand, order cancellations, temporary production halts, and huge revenue losses.

All these factors have forced major aircraft OEMs to reduce production rates temporarily. For instance, Airbus has slashed the A320 production rate from 60 aircraft per month in 2019 to 40 aircraft per month.

Similarly, A330 and A350 programs are reduced to a rate of two and six aircraft per month, respectively. These production cuts from major aircraft OEMs have devastated the demand for aircraft engines with reduced demand for CMCs.

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s CMCs market in aircraft engines realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period.

The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruits available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.

More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.

We conducted more than 10 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report, from Stratview Research, identifies and quantifies the opportunities that ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) will have in aircraft engine applications over the next five years (2023-2028).

The report mapped all the major CMC applications present currently in aircraft engines as well as the ongoing research & developments for the upcoming engines.

The report segments the market in the most comprehensive manner with an aim to present the complete analysis including market assessment till 2028, market competition, upcoming CMC applications, and emerging trends.

The report can be decisive for the market participants as well as investors, willing to expedite their growth process and build growth strategies to achieve their long-term business goals.
What Deliverables Will You Get in this Report?

Customization Option

With this detailed report, Stratview Research offers one of the following free customization options to our respectable clients:

Company Profiling

• Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
• SWOT analysis of key players (up to three players)

Competitive Benchmarking

• Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances

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