Aircraft Polymer Seals Market Report | 2023-2028

Market Highlights

The aircraft polymer seals market is estimated to grow from USD 1.1 billion in 2022 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% during 2023-2028 to reach USD 1.85 billion by 2028.

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What are aircraft polymer seals?

Aircraft polymer seals are specialized seals made of polymer materials that are used in various aircraft applications to prevent the leakage of fluids or gases. These seals are typically used in areas where traditional seals made of metal or rubber cannot provide adequate sealing.

Polymer seals are used in a wide range of aircraft applications, including engine compartments, fuel systems, hydraulic systems, and air conditioning systems. They are particularly useful in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, where they can provide excellent sealing performance while withstanding extreme conditions.

Market Dynamics

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

• The aviation industry requires high-performance seals that can withstand extreme temperatures and pressure and can resist wear and tear. This demand can be met by polymer seals that are designed to meet these specific requirements.
• The increase in aircraft fleet size also leads to the need for regular maintenance and replacement of aircraft polymer seals, which further drives the demand for these products. 
• The growing trend towards lightweight and fuel-efficient aircraft designs also creates opportunities for new and innovative aircraft polymer seals that can reduce weight and improve performance.
• The development and introduction of new aircraft often require the use of advanced materials and technologies, including new types of polymer seals.
• With the increasing demand for more efficient, reliable, and durable sealing solutions, manufacturers are continually developing new and innovative products that meet the evolving needs of the industry.
• With the growing demand for aircraft and the need for enhanced safety and reliability, the demand for durable seals has increased significantly. Polymer seals are preferred over traditional metallic seals due to their lightweight, cost-effectiveness, and superior performance in harsh environments.
• As military spending increases, governments around the world are likely to invest more in defense equipment, including aircraft. This could lead to increased demand for aircraft polymer seals, which are used to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft.
• With an increase in air passenger traffic, the demand for new aircraft and maintenance of existing aircraft also increases. This, in turn, drives the demand for polymer seals used in various aircraft components.

Polymer seals cover a long list of seals made of polymer materials, such as elastomers and thermoplastics. These seals are used in a range of aircraft components, such as airframe, nacelles & engines, interiors, landing gear, wheels, and brakes, flight control actuation, and hydraulics.

Over the years, there has been a paradigm shift from metal seals to polymer seals in the wake of lightweight components. The aircraft polymer seals market experienced a decline of -27.7% in 2020 amid the pandemic. While the industry was expected to recover faster in 2021, the suspension in deliveries of the B787 program from early 2021 due to manufacturing quality problems, delays in the market entry of C919, and further waves of the pandemic dented the pace of recovery. However, the long-term outlook still seems fruitful, well backed by the industry’s buoyant nature and strong fundamentals. Various factors are supporting the demand for seals in the aircraft industry such as increasing production rates of the aircraft programs, such as B737 and A320; introduction of fuel-efficient aircraft variants, such as B777x and A330neo; and rising global aircraft fleet size.

Segment Analysis

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Aircraft Trends

The market is segmented into commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, helicopters, military aircraft, and general aviation. Despite taking a nosedive in 2020, commercial aircraft dominated the market with a share of more than 50% in 2022 & is expected to remain the largest and fastest-growing segment during the forecast period Gradual recovery in air passenger traffic coupled with the resumption of B737 Max deliveries as well as projected market entry of aircraft programs, such as B777x, Comac C919, Irkut MC-21, and Airbus A321XLR are likely to create a healthy demand for polymer seals in the commercial aircraft segment.

Application Trends

The market is segmented as airframes; nacelles & engines; aircraft interiors; landing gear, wheels & brakes; flight control actuation and hydraulics; and others. Airframes occupied more than 35% of the market share in 2022, whereas nacelles & engines are likely to be the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period.

Airframes have a wide range of applications such as sealing doors, windows, wings, ailerons, spoilers, canopies, hatches, and various panels, creating a high demand for seals. Seals are used in a wide range of engine applications and are designed to withstand high temperatures. Fire seals are one of the widely used seal types in engines.

Function Trends

The market is segmented as aerodynamic surface sealing, air & fluid management seals, fire seals, conductive and insulative seals, and others. Aerodynamic surface sealing accounted for more than 30% in 2022 & is expected to remain the most dominant segment of the market during the forecast period.

Aerodynamic surface sealing is used to fill gaps between flight control surfaces and wings of the aircraft where it improves aerodynamics by reducing air friction, resulting in high demand for polymer seals.

Material Trends

The market is segmented into elastomeric seals and thermoplastic seals. Elastomers dominated the market with a share of more than 80% in 2022 & are expected to remain the larger and faster-growing segment of the market during the forecast period.

Elastomers are gaining traction in the aircraft industry as they are lighter in weight, have higher temperature resistance, and are more flexible. The high demand for lightweight aircraft is the major driving force behind the widespread use of elastomeric seals in the aircraft industry.

Regions Analysis

North American aircraft polymer seals market held a market share of more than 45% in 2022 & is expected to remain the largest market during the forecast period. The presence of major aircraft OEMs, tier players, raw material suppliers, and part fabricators in the region is driving the market growth. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific is likely to be the fastest-growing region, owing to rising passenger traffic, the opening of assembly plants by Airbus and Boeing for multiple aircraft programs, and the upcoming indigenous aircraft, C919. 

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Segmentation

This report studies the market covering a period of 12 years of trend and forecast. The report provides detailed insights into the market dynamics to enable informed business decision-making and growth strategy formulation based on the opportunities present in the market.

The aircraft polymer seals market is segmented into the following categories:

 By Aircraft Type

• Commercial Aircraft
• Regional Aircraft
• Helicopters
• Military Aircraft
• General Aviation

By Application Type

• Airframe
• Nacelles and engines
• Aircraft Interiors
• Landing gear
• Wheels and brakes
• Flight Control Actuation and Hydraulics
• Others

By Function Type

• Aerodynamic Surface Sealing
• Air & Fluid Management Seals
• Fire Seals
• Conductive Seals and Insulative Seals
• Others

By Material Type

• Elastomeric Seals
• Thermoplastic Seals

By Motion Type

• Static Seals
• Dynamic Seals

By End-User Type

• OE
• Aftermarket

By Region

• North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico),
• Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, Russia, and the Rest of Europe),
• Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, India, Australia, South Korea, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific),
• Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Others).

Key Players

The following are the key players in the aircraft polymer seals market.

• Freudenberg Group
• Meggitt Plc
• Hutchinson SA
• TransDigm Group Incorporated (Kirkhill)
• Trelleborg AB

Research Methodology

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s aircraft polymer seals market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2023 to 2028.

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 the market participants as well as investors in the identification of the low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as to formulate the 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 15 detailed primary interviews with the market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. 

What Deliverables Will You Get in this Report?

Customization Options

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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