Growing Value of High Performance Materials in the Aerospace Supply Chain Throws the Focus on Innovation in Aerospace Foams
Growing demand for innovative interior
materials as aircraft OEMs push the design boundaries on cost, weight,
creativity and comfort is poised to drive the global market for Aerospace Foams to reach US$5.9
billion by 2024.
In the aerospace industry, foam is used
in aircraft manufacturing in aircraft seat cushions, cabin interiors, aircraft
meal tables, luggage bins and bin doors, ceiling panels, heads, galleys,
lavatories, IFE components, seat shells-, class partitions and crew rest
modules; and structural components such as commercial randomes; propeller,
rotor and fan blades; aerodynamic fairings; engine cowlings and nacelles;
antennas; general aviation structures; and tankers for waste, fuel and water.
The highly demanding operating environment and high performance standards of
civil, commercial and military aircraft mandate continuous innovation and
feature improvements such as fire resistance and lightweight characteristics.
Some of the key requirements of aerospace foams include good processing
characteristics and mechanical properties, high resistance to aircraft
chemicals and heat aging, excellent dielectric and fatigue performance. The
growing importance shed on reducing weight and lifecycle costs in the aviation
industry is creating engineering and technological challenges for aircraft
manufacturers, resulting in high commercial value for innovative materials.
Polymer foam composite sandwich solutions and high performance foam cores that
are developed in keeping with the high-quality design and production
requirements of aircraft manufacturers, are playing a pivotal role in improving
the lifecycle costs and environmental footprint of aircraft.
Foam core sandwich composites are
helping lower the overall aircraft weight and fuel consumption, which
translates into higher payloads and longer range. Continuous R&D is
lowering the cost of production and processing, and is helping fuel growth in
the market. Polyurethane (PU) foams, polyethylene (PE) foams, ceramic foams, and metal foams, are growing in
popularity in aerospace applications. Demand for polyurethane foams is
supported by material characteristics such as versatility and availability in a
range of densities, rigidities, hardness and tensile strength. PU foams are
preferred for their durability, toughness, lightweight, and abrasion
resistance, which render them suitable for roofing, flooring, seat cushioning,
insulation and other aerospace applications. Polyurethane products in
particular enjoy versatility unmatched by other materials available in the
aircraft segment.
Major factors driving growth in the
market include continued recovery in global GDP, robust outlook for commercial
aviation and recovery in world military and defense budgets; large order backlogs and robust new orders
that keep the aircraft assembly line busy; the enduring bull run of aircraft
delivery growth; continuing quest for quieter cabins and the resulting interest
in high performance aerospace foams; focus on aircraft cabin retrofits
to differentiate the airline brand image and the ensuing opening up of
opportunities in the aftermarket; and rapidly growing demand for innovative
aerospace-standard materials.
As stated by the new market research
report on Aerospace Foams,
Europe represents the largest market worldwide. Asia-Pacific ranks as the
fastest growing market with a CAGR of 7.9% over the analysis period, led by
factors such as growing base of low cost carriers and the ensuing demand for
small aircraft; spurt in air travel in stable and developing Asian economies as
a result of the emerging middle class population, growing income and affluence,
rapid urbanization; passenger aircraft fleet expansion decisions by Asian
airliners to accommodate the expected growth in air passenger traffic; and
expected recovery in global trade across major trade lines and the ensuing expansion
of freighter fleets.
Major players in the market include Aerofoam
Industries, Armacell International S.A., BASF SE, Boyd Corporation, ERG
Materials and Aerospace Corp., Evonik Industries AG, General Plastics
Manufacturing Company, Grand Rapids Foam Technologies, Greiner Aerospace,
Mueller, Polymer Technologies, Inc, Rogers Corporation, SABIC Innovative
Plastics Holding BV, Sekisui Voltek, LLC, Solvay Specialty Polymers, UFP
Technologies, Inc., and Zotefoams Plc among others.
The
research report titled “Aerospace Foams - Market
Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a
comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, mergers,
acquisitions and other strategic industry activities of global companies. The report provides market estimates and
projections for all major geographic markets such as the U.S., Canada, Japan,
Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe),
Asia-Pacific (China, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and Rest of World.
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