One of the major factors fuelling the surge in the demand for ceramic matrix composites (CMC) is the soaring need for lightweight components in the aerospace industry. CMCs, which have a high strength-to-weight ratio, offer excellent mechanical properties, which propel their demand in various aerospace applications, such as helicopter rotor blade sleeves, power transmission lines, fighter aircraft ventral fins, and jet engine fans. Due to the increasing aircraft production, especially in European nations, because of the mushrooming international trade, the demand for CMCs is predicted to increase significantly in the coming years.
Composite materials consist of at least two parts — a matrix material, which holds everything together, and the reinforcement, which provides various mechanical properties, such as strength or stiffness. CMC refers to a special type of composite material, in which both the matrix material and reinforcement (refractory fibers) are ceramics. They are used in defense, aerospace, electrical & electronics, and energy & power applications.
The CMC market is currently observing the increasing adoption of CMCs in automotive applications. CMCs play a major role in reducing a vehicle’s weight, which, in turn, leads to the vehicle attaining high fuel efficiency and causing less environmental pollution. Moreover, the stringent environmental regulations and policies implemented in several countries are boosting the adoption of eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles, thereby fuelling the growth in the demand for CMCs across the globe.
Globally, North America recorded the highest sales of CMCs in the past. This is mainly attributed to the wide-scale usage of these materials in the defense and aerospace industries in the U.S. In addition to this, the ballooning electronics manufacturing sector in the country is expected to further push the demand for CMCs in the coming years. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, owing to the soaring expenditure on space exploration and defense projects and the surging power generation sector in several countries, is predicted to witness the fastest growth in the usage of CMCs during the forecast period.
Hence, it is clear that due to the burgeoning utilization of CMCs in numerous industries, on account of their lower weight and higher strength-to-weight ratios, the demand for them will surge in the coming years.
