Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in the Global Aircraft Engines Industry: Highlights

The development of CMC applications in the best-selling aircraft or their variants owing to its intrinsic advantages, such as temperature resistance up to 260°C higher than nickel alloys at just one-third weight. There would be continuous replacement of nickel alloys with CMCs in both low-pressure and high-pressure engine zones during the forecast period. Furthermore, increasing aircraft deliveries and demand for fuel-efficient aircraft would further propel the demand for CMC in aircraft engines.


Commercial aircraft is forecasted to remain the largest segment of the CMC market in aircraft engines over the next five years. Development of CMC parts in variants of the best-selling aircraft programs, such as B737 Max and A320neo, is the key growth driver of the market. Additionally, upcoming variant B777x with five CMC applications in its GE9X engine is likely to further elevate the demand for CMC parts in this segment.


Most of the current CMC developments in aircraft engines are primarily for static components, such as shrouds and combustor liner. All the major engine manufacturers are trying hard for the development of CMC components in static applications in their best-selling engines. We also expect a healthy surge in the demand for CMC parts in rotational components over the next five years.


Based on the application type, shrouds are projected to remain the largest application of CMCs in aircraft engines over the next five years, driven by their usage in Leap engines. Leap engine is certified for B737 Max, A320neo, and C919 aircraft. CFM International, a JV between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, delivered 459 Leap engines in 2017 and is projected to deliver in the range of 1,100-1,200 Leap engines in 2018. Furthermore, development of CMC-based shrouds in upcoming aircraft engines, such as GE9x, would further accelerate the demand over the next five years. All the major applications including combustor liner, shrouds, blades, and nozzles, are projected to witness healthy growth rates during the forecast period.



In terms of engine type, high pressure would remain the hotspot for CMC market in aircraft engines during the forecast period. CMCs are ideal materials as they offer a wide spectrum of advantages at high-pressure zones including a reliable performance at extreme temperatures up to 1,300°C, significant weight savings compared with the nearest rival nickel alloys, and no need for cooling air requirements.


As per the study, North America is projected to remain the largest CMC parts market for aircraft engines during the forecast period. This region has been investigating the potential of CMC in aircraft engines for the last two decades. Key CMC players worked with government institutions to make sure the commercial viability of CMCs in aircraft engines. The region also owns the presence of all the major CMC part manufacturers, such as GE Aviation. They are rolling out their dedicated CMC plants in North America to address the surging demand for CMCs.


The global CMCs market in aircraft engine is highly consolidated with the presence of less than a dozen players. The top five players are GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Composite Horizons, Safran Herakles, and COI Ceramics, Inc. They are expected to remain the dominant players during the forecast period as well. Development of new applications, long-term contracts, and collaboration with OEMs are the key strategies adopted by companies to gain a competitive advantage over others in the market.


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 on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:



Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.


This report studies CMCs market in the global aircraft engines industry and has segmented the market in eight ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the eight ways in which the market is segmented:


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Aircraft Type:



Commercial Aircraft

Business Jets

Military Aircraft

Helicopter


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Engine Type:



Jet Engine

Helicopter Engine

Other Engines


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Component Type:



Static Components

Rotational Components


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Application Type:



Combustor Liner

Shrouds

Blades

Nozzles

Others


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Engine Zone:



High-Pressure Zone

Low-Pressure Zone

Combustor


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Material Type:



SiC/SiC

Ox/Ox

Others


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Manufacturing Process Type:



Chemical Vapor Infiltration (CVI)

Solid Phase Infiltration (SPI)

Polymer Impregnation and Pyrolysis (PIP)

Melt Infiltration (MI)


Ceramic Matrix Composites Market in Aircraft Engines by Region:



North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Rest of the world