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[October 2004]
North American High-Performance Ceramic Coatings Market To Reach $1.6 Billion By 2009
High-performance ceramic coating service markets were projected to grow very rapidly in the late 1980s and 1990s. However, this rapid growth did not happen. The "ceramics fever" of the early and mid-1980s has gone and a new realization has developed among the suppliers of advanced ceramic components. The ceramic coating segment also suffered from severe cuts in military spending on new aircraft. In ceramic coating applications in several industrial segments such as cutting tools, wear-resistant parts, medical, and industrial applications sustained that market in the second half of 1990s. The slump in the commercial aircraft demand slowed market growth in the early 2000s. However, with increasing demand for commercial aircraft in the next five years, the ceramic coating service market is expected to see renewed growth.
According to a soon-to-be-released updated report from Business Communications Company, Inc. (www.bccresearch.com) RGB-111N High Performance Ceramic Coatings: Markets and Technology, the North American market for high-performance ceramic coatings services is currently estimated at $1.1 billion. This is expected to increase to $1.6 billion by 2009, at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 7.6%.
The market for thermal spray coatings dominates the total market and will continue to do so in 2009 as it grows at an AAGR of 8.6% through the forecast period. This high growth rate is due to increased demand for commercial and military aircraft in the next five years. Many airlines are acquiring new aircraft and there is increased demand in Asia as well.The share of physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in the total market will vary little as the respective markets grow at AAGRs of 5.8% and 5.0% through the forecast period. The market for other coatings techniques which includes spraying/dipping, sol gel , micro-oxidation and laser-assisted is expected to grow at an AAGR of 8.6%.
Surface modification using ceramic coatings has achieved an important place in the industrial environment over the past several decades. High-performance ceramic coatings constitute a mature but still expanding industry with a broad list of current and potential applications, continuously emerging coating techniques and a growing list of material compositions. Improvements in performance and coating technologies are attributed to the continued development and commercialization of high-performance ceramic coatings.
A major breakthrough for high-performance ceramic coatings was their use in aircraft engines. This led to wider acceptance of these coatings for other applications. High-performance ceramic coatings are now being used to coat land-based turbine engines, diesel engine parts, racing car engines, automotive parts, carbide tool inserts, round tools, surgical tools, wear-resistant parts, and industrial and high-temperature applications.
High-performance ceramic coatings constitute an important processing technique for next generation technologies for components manufacture. BCC further concludes that the U.S. has an edge in new coating technologies and is likely to hold on to its lead over the near term.
ENDS