Composite in the Aerospace Market: Trends, Opportunities and Competitive Analysis [2024-2030]

Composite in the Global Aerospace Market Trends and Forecast

• Lucintel forecasts that carbon fiber based composites will remain the largest market during the forecast period. Increasing penetration of carbon composites in commercial aircraft, such as B787 and A350XWB is expected to drive the demand for this segment over the forecast period from 2024 to 2030.
• Within the aerospace composites market, commercial aircraft will remain the largest market by value and volume consumption followed by military aircraft.
• By type of structure, primary structure will remain the largest market by value and volume due to higher composite consumption.
• Europe will remain the largest region during the forecast period due to a higher demand for newer aircraft and the ongoing replacement of an aging fleet.

Country wise Outlook for the Composite in the Global Aerospace Market

Emerging Trends in the Composite in the Global Aerospace Market

• Rising Utilization of Advanced Materials: The use of CFRPs in aviation industry is increasing as a result of their high specific strength thus enhancing fuel efficiency and performance. These materials are being used extensively in aircraft structures including fuselage, wings, and tail sections. There is an increased interest on the development of high performing thermoplastic composites such as PEEK and PEKK. This will allow for faster production times, recyclability among others making them appropriate for various applications in the aerospace.
• Automation and Advanced Manufacturing Techniques: Achieve high precision levels and composite material production efficiencies these advanced manufacturing techniques are becoming increasingly popular. They cut down on material wastage as well as reducing time spent during production while maintaining quality product. The application of 3D printing technology in composite manufacturing makes it possible to produce complex geometries and custom parts. This leap forward reduces lead times associated with light weighting, leading to aerospace components that are lighter yet efficient.

• Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Solutions: Many people are now looking at development of bio-based composites using natural fibers/ resins like jute fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The aim is to minimize the carbon footprints involved in composite processing towards meeting sustainability objectives within the aerospace sector globally. New recycling technologies for composite materials have been developed thereby enabling reuse of aerospace composites. Such initiatives help to reduce waste stream brought about by traditional composites upon disposal at end-of-life.

• Integration of Smart Materials: A growing trend has seen major advancements into self-healing composites which can repair minor damages by themselves. These materials enhance durability and life expectancy of aerospace components hence reducing maintenance costs and improving safety. There is a growing interest in composites that can be integrated with sensors for real-time monitoring of structural health. These sensors embedded in smart composites provide information on stress, strain, and damage thus enabling proactive maintenance thereby ensuring safety of aircrafts.
• Expanding Applications Beyond Traditional Use: Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Drones: The growth in UAM technology as well as drones has necessitated the need for light weight high-performance composites. These materials are important to achieve required flight efficiency and durability in new aerospace applications. Composites have become an essential part of spacecraft and satellite components. They are lightweight and have high strength making them suitable for use in space.

Recent Developments by the Composite in the Global Aerospace Market

• High-temperature resistant composites: There are new composite materials that can withstand greater temperatures being developed. These are especially useful for engine parts and other high-stress areas, increasing overall performance and safety.
• Enhanced resin systems: Development of resin systems such as toughened epoxies and thermoplastic resins is another way aerospace composites are made durable and tough. This makes the aircraft components have a longer life span and reduced maintenance needs.
• Recycling initiatives: Recycling technologies for advanced composites is now emerging thus making possible the reuse of aerospace composites after their service life expires. Therefore, it ensures there is minimal waste produced together with dealing with traditional composites end-of-life disposal problems.
• Sensor-embedded Composites: Real-time monitoring of structural health using composites containing sensors has attracted immense research efforts. Smart composites provide information on stress, strain and damage for proactive maintenance to ensure safety of aircrafts.
• Notable Company Initiatives & Collaborations: To enhance fuel efficiency as well as performance, Boeing has implemented advanced composites in their latest airplane models such as 777X and 787 Dreamliner. Airbus announced its selection of innovative composite materials for A350 XWB among other future aircraft with a view to reduce weight while improving fuel efficiency. Spirit Aero Systems has been investing advanced composite technologies and automated manufacturing processes so that it will be able to increase production capacity by meeting increasing demand for aerospace composites.

Strategic Growth Opportunities for Global Composite in the Global Aerospace Market

• Fuel Efficiency and Cost Savings: Composites offer significant weight savings over conventional materials, which make them attractive to commercial airlines in terms of fuel efficiency and cost savings. This is a good thing for manufacturers who need to improve their fleets’ performance and profitability.
• Next-Generation Aircraft Designs: Advanced composites are essential in the continued development of next-generation aircraft such as Boeing’s 777X and Airbus’s A350. The usage of these substances makes it possible for innovational designs that enhance an aircraft by making it more aerodynamic and comfortable among other qualities.

• Enhanced Durability and Performance: Composites provide superior strength and durability, making them ideal for military aircraft subjected to extreme conditions. They also help in enhancing fighter jets, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) mission capabilities.
• Stealth and Radar Absorption: To create stealth aircraft advanced composite materials with radar-absorbing properties are strategically important. These types of materials are necessary because they lower the visibility on radar making operations safer as well as more effective.

• Lightweight and Efficient Design: The UAM and eVTOL sectors represent key growth areas within composites. In urban transport applications, these planes require lightweight materials that facilitate energy use optimization while providing required range.
• Scalability and Production Efficiency: It will be necessary to develop scalable manufacturing processes for composite materials if the demand from UAM (Urban Air Mobility) and eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take Off Landing) markets is to be met. Success in this direction of automation will depend on innovations realized in the area of production including assembly techniques.

• Lightweight Structures for Space crafts: There is a growing need for lightweight composites with high-strength properties within space exploration sector. Such features enable a spacecraft built from this type of material to withstand the rigors of space while keeping the cost of launching low.
• Thermal And Radiation Protection: Satellite components and space habitats require advanced composites with thermal and radiation protection properties. These compounds are important in preventing hazardous incidents and for normalizing activities in space flight.

• Repair Technologies for Composites: As aerospace industries use of composites increases, the need for special MRO services also grows. To ensure that aircraft components remain whole and functional, it is crucial that effective repair technologies be developed for composite materials.
• Training and Certification Programs: It is therefore important to invest in training and certification programs targeted at technicians specializing on composite repairs. This will create a workforce that has been properly trained to handle these challenges related to maintenance of composites.

Composite in the Global Aerospace Market Drivers and Challenges

• Increased Demand for Fuel Efficiency: Reduce operational costs and impact on the environment, aerospace industry has put fuel efficiency first. Composites including carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have significantly reduced weight as compared to traditional metals thus improving fuel efficiency. This is important because it enables airlines and manufacturers to meet more stringent emission regulations while at the same time enhancing performance of new aircraft designs. The search for more cost-effective aircraft therefore accounts for the increase in demand for advanced composite materials.
• Technological Advancements in Manufacturing: Composite production technology innovations such as Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) and Automated Tape Laying (ATL) have resulted in better efficiencies and precision. These advances minimize waste, reduce fabrication costs, and enable creation of complex geometries and lightweight structures. Furthermore, 3D printing integration for rapid prototyping and production further extends the capability and applications of composites in aerospace hence their increased adoption across industry.
• Growing Applications in Emerging Aerospace Technologies: Emerging aviation technologies such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM) or Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) vehicle are driving up the need for advanced composites. Such technologies require light weight materials with high performance capabilities to enable efficient flight operations. Composites have a higher strength-to-weight ratio that makes them ideal options to cater for these innovative needs leading to increased investments and development within this sector.

• High Production and Material Costs: Significant barriers facing smaller firms from developing nations include higher material and manufacture prices incurred during producing advanced composites. The overall expense is brought about by expensive raw materials like carbon fibers, specialty resins coupled with complicated manufacturing processes involved. High prices may affect how much aerospace components are sold at which could eventually restricts the uptake of composites into various applications mainly those whose pricing is sensitive.
• Complexity in Repair and Maintenance: Although they perform better than traditional materials, repairs on composites are more challenging. Composite structures repair is often accompanied by complicated and expensive equipment and techniques that have to be sought from specific sources. Moreover, skilled personnel and sophisticated repairing technologies will increase maintenance costs. Therefore, addressing these issues will help guarantee the sustainability of composite materials in aerospace applications.

Composite in the Global Aerospace Suppliers and Their Market Shares

• Hexcel
• Solvay
• Toray Industries Inc.
• Teijin
• Zodiac Aerospace

Composite in the Global Aerospace Market by Segment

The study includes a forecast of the growth opportunities for the composites in the global aerospace market by aircraft type, reinforcement type, manufacturing process, type of structure, component, and region as follows:

By Aircraft Type [Volume (M lbs) and Value ($ Million) Analysis for 2018 to 2030]:

• Commercial Aircraft
• Military Aircraft
• Regional Aircraft
• General Aviation
• Helicopter
• Others

By Reinforcement Type [Volume (M lbs) Analysis for 2018 to 2030]:

• Carbon Composites
• Glass Composites
• Aramid Composites
• Others

By Manufacturing Process [Volume (M lbs) Analysis for 2018 to 2030]:

• AFP/ALT
• RTM
• Compression Molding
• Injection Molding
• Hand Layup
• Others

By Type of Structure [Volume (M lbs) and Value ($ Million) Analysis for 2018 to 2030]:

• Primary Structure
• Interior
• Engine      
• Others

By Component [Volume (M lbs) Analysis for 2018 to 2030]:

• Wings
• Fuselage
• Empennage
• Engine
• Interior
• Radome
• Rotor Blade
• Landing Gear
• Others   

By Region [Volume (M lbs) and Value ($ Million) Analysis for 2018 to 2030]:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• ROW

Features of Composite in the Global Aerospace Market

• Market size estimates: Composites in the global aerospace market size estimation in terms of value ($M) and volume (M lbs) shipment.
• Trend and forecast analysis: Market trend (2018-2023) and forecast (2024-2030) by component type, structure type, aircraft type, reinforcement and manufacturing process type.
• Segmentation analysis: Composites in the global aerospace market size by various segments, such as aircraft type, and type of structure, in terms of value and reinforcement, manufacturing process, and component in terms of volume.
• Regional analysis: Composites in the global aerospace market breakdown by North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.
• Growth opportunities: Analysis on growth opportunities in different segments and regions for composites in the global aerospace market.
• Analysis of competitive intensity of the industry based on Porter’s Five Forces model.

FAQ

• Hexcel
• Cytec Solvay Group
• Toray
• Gurit
• Teijin

This report answers following 11 key questions