Ceramic matrix composites are materials containing a secondary phase (organic or inorganic) dispersed within a ceramic matrix or primary phase. In most formulations, the function of the secondary phase is to confer increased strength to the matrix; hence, its alternative name, the reinforcing phase. In addition to mechanical functions, the secondary phase can be added to improve bioactivity in biocompatible materials or to confer electrical conductivity to an insulating matrix.
 
In 1999, the market for CMCs was valued at only $212.6 million worldwide; however, the market has grown steadily since then. CMC fabrication technologies have also continued to evolve. In addition, several new applications have exited the development stage and entered commercialization, while others are being developed.
 
The principal reason for doing this study is to present a current assessment of the CMC industry from both a technological and market point of view and to outline future trends and key developments.
 
There is also a need to evaluate the current status and future trends of the CMC industry from a global standpoint. In recent years, several producers have changed identity and others have abandoned the market. New companies have started manufacturing in developing countries. Therefore, it is also necessary to provide an updated geographical mapping of points of production of ceramic matrix composites, relative to global sales and distribution. Such an evaluation will contribute to a broader understanding of growth opportunities for CMCs and their applications within the U.S. and abroad. 
 
An equally important reason for undertaking this study is to provide technical insights into CMC manufacturing by:

•Supplying a review of materials, their specific applications, and production methods.
•Identifying current technical issues.
•Providing an overview of global R&D activities related to ceramic matrix composites, both within public and private organizations.
•Illustrating the latest technological developments. 
This information can assist companies in finding opportunities for process and productivity improvements, resulting in a positive impact on future market growth. 
 
 
This study will be of primary interest to all companies that:

•Manufacture, sell, and distribute CMCs and CMC-based products.
•Supply raw materials for CMC production.
•Manufacture process equipment utilized by CMC producers.
•Fabricate and supply wear-resistant parts, hardened tools, kiln furniture, radiant heaters and other high-temperature components, turbines, ballistic armor, aircraft parts, low friction products, and biocompatible materials.
•Provide technical and/or marketing services in conjunction with the above mentioned products.
•Are planning to enter the CMC industry as a supplier, manufacturer, or end-user.
Overall, this study applies to industry sectors such as mechanical, chemical, energy, environmental, medical, dental, automotive, aerospace, defense, and electronics.
 
This study is mainly directed toward executives, directors, operations managers, sales and marketing managers, and strategic planners working within the above industries. Universities and research facilities may find this study to be a good source of technical information regarding CMC technology, materials, equipment, and applications, which can be used as a baseline for new or expanded R&D activities.Librarians of technical information and research centers can also use this report to provide critical data to product managers, market analysts, researchers, and other professionals needing detailed and updated insights into the CMC industry.

The main goal of this report is to provide new insights into current CMC technology, outlining technological trends, and supplying an updated market analysis for these materials.
 
Specifically, the major objectives of this study are:

•Provide an updated review of ceramic matrix composites, focusing on materials and fabrication technologies.
•Highlight key technological advances made during the past 3 years.
•Review existing fields of application for CMCs and investigate emerging applications.
•Estimate current global markets for CMCs by matrix type, application, and region, with growth forecasts through 2015 for each market segment.
•Identify important technology and market trends within each market segment.
•Supply an updated review of current players in CMC technology.
•Provide a description of current worldwide research activities and evaluate their impact on industry growth.
•Determine trends in U.S. patents issued during the past 3 years.
 

SCOPE OF REPORT
 
This study provides an updated review of CMC technology, including materials and production processes, and identifies current and emerging applications for this technology.
 
BCC Research determines the current market status of CMC-based products, defines trends, and presents growth forecasts for the next 5 years. Technological issues, including the latest process developments, are also discussed. 
 
This report analyzes the CMC industry on a worldwide basis from the standpoint of both manufacturing and consumption. In addition, the study examines commercial and public research activities in major regions of the world. Research objectives and areas of interest related to materials, production methods, and applications of ceramic matrix composites are also outlined.
 
More specifically,  market analysis is divided into six parts.
 
In the first part, a historical review of ceramic matrix composites is provided, including an outline of recent events. In this section, current and emerging applications of CMCs are also identified and divided by sector: mechanical/chemical, energy and environmental, aerospace and defense, transportation (private and commercial motor vehicles and rail transportation), medical and dental, and electronics.
 
The second part of the report offers a technological review of ceramic matrix composites. This section supplies a revised and detailed description of CMC materials, typical fabrication methods and recent process upgrades, and applications by CMC type. A review of recent technological developments and patent abstracts is also offered, related to materials, applications, and manufacturing processes.
 
The third part of the report entails a global market analysis of CMC products. Global CMC revenues (sales data in millions of dollars) are presented by matrix type, application, and region, with actual data referring to the years 2008, 2009, and estimated data for the year 2010.
 
This section concludes with a presentation of market growth trends, based on industry growth, technological trends, and regional trends. Projected revenues are reported, with forecast compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for the period 2010 through 2015.
 
In the fourth part, covering global industry structure, the report provides a complete list of suppliers of ceramic matrix composites and a description of their products. The analysis includes a description of the geographical distribution of these firms and an evaluation of production versus consumption, always from a geographical standpoint. Detailed company profiles of the top industry players are also provided.
 
In the fifth part of this study, an analysis of industry competitiveness is performed. This analysis encompasses a review of global research and development activities, with profiles of the most important R&D players divided by region, and an outline of the most critical factors contributing to industry competitiveness.
 
The sixth and final section includes an extensive U.S. patent analysis, with a summary of patents related to CMC materials, fabrication methods, and applications, issued during the period 2007 through 2010. Patent analysis is performed by region, country, assignee, patent category, application, and matrix type.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 
    STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 
    REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY 
    INTENDED AUDIENCE 
    SCOPE OF REPORT 
    METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES  
    DISCLAIMER 

CHAPTER TWO: SUMMARY 
    SUMMARY 
  SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET FOR CERAMIC MATRIX
    COMPOSITES, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
  SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR CERAMIC MATRIX
    COMPOSITES, 2008-2015 ($ MILLIONS)

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW
     INTRODUCTION
          MONOLITHIC AND COMPOSITE CERAMICS
          THE COMPOSITE MATERIAL INDUSTRY
  TABLE 1 THE COMPOSITE MATERIAL INDUSTRY
  FIGURE 1 THE COMPOSITE MATERIAL INDUSTRY: GLOBAL
     MARKET SHARE BY MATERIAL, 2009 (%)
     REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES
        AND RECENT EVENTS 
  TABLE 2 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES--TECHNOLOGICAL
     MILESTONES
  FIGURE 2 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES--WORLDWIDE PATENT
     APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS ISSUED, 1980­2009
     CURRENT AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS FOR CERAMIC
        MATRIX COMPOSITES 
          MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL 
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
  TABLE 3 CMC APPLICATIONS IN THE MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL
     SECTOR, 2010
          ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
  TABLE 4 CMC APPLICATIONS IN THE ENERGY AND
     ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR, 2010
          AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
   TABLE 5 CMC APPLICATIONS IN THE AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE
     SECTOR, 2010
   TABLE 5 (CONTINUED)
            TRANSPORTATION
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
   TABLE 6 CMC APPLICATIONS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR, 2010 
            ELECTRONICS 
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
   TABLE 7 CMC APPLICATIONS IN THE ELECTRONICS SECTOR, 2010 
            MEDICAL AND DENTAL 
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
   TABLE 8 CMC APPLICATIONS IN THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL
     SECTOR, 2010
            OTHER APPLICATIONS 
                Established Applications
                Emerging Applications
   TABLE 9 CMC APPLICATIONS IN OTHER SECTORS, 2010

CHAPTER FOUR: CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY
     INTRODUCTION 
     CMC MATERIALS
          MATRIX MATERIALS
  TABLE 10 MATRIX MATERIALS, 2010 
          SECONDARY PHASE MATERIALS
     CMC TYPES AND APPLICATIONS 
          DISCONTINUOUSLY REINFORCED COMPOSITES 
               Particles
  TABLE 11 REINFORCING PHASE: PARTICLES, 2010
               Platelets
  TABLE 12 REINFORCING PHASE: PLATELETS, 2010 
               Whiskers and Chopped Fibers
                         Whiskers
                         Chopped Fibers 
  TABLE 13 REINFORCING PHASE: WHISKERS AND CHOPPED
    FIBERS, 2010 
               DRC Materials and Applications 
  TABLE 14 MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS FOR DRCS, 2010
  TABLE 14 (CONTINUED)
          CONTINUOUSLY REINFORCED COMPOSITES 
               Reinforcing Phase 
  TABLE 15 REINFORCING PHASE: CONTINUOUS FIBERS, 2010 
                CRC Materials and Applications 
   TABLE 16 MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS FOR CRCS 
   TABLE 16 (CONTINUED)
           LAMINATED COMPOSITES
   TABLE 17 MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS FOR LAMINATED
     CERAMIC COMPOSITES
                FUNCTIONALLY GRADED CERAMIC COMPOSITES
           NANOSTRUCTURED COMPOSITE COATINGS
           SUPERPLASTIC CERAMIC COMPOSITES 
           LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, 2007 TO
              PRESENT 
                Fluorescent Lamp with Ceramic-Glass Composite
                   Electrode 
                Luminescent Ceramic Composite Converter 
                CMC for Steam Turbine  37
                Ceramic Fiber/Mullite-Alumina Composite
      PRODUCTION METHODS
   TABLE 18 DRC--TRADITIONAL FABRICATION METHODS 
   TABLE 19 CRC--TRADITIONAL FABRICATION METHODS 
   TABLE 19 (CONTINUED)
   TABLE 20 LAMINATED COMPOSITES--TRADITIONAL
     FABRICATION METHODS
           LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, 2007 TO
              PRESENT 
                Processes for Complex and Near-Net Shapes
                   Manufacturing 
                Processes for Fabrication of Nanocomposites
                       Nanocomposite Coatings
                       Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite/Alumina
                          Nanocomposites
                       Others
                Large-Scale Process for CRC Fabrication
                Multilayered Ceramic Matrix Composites
                Liquid Feed Flame Spray Pyrolysis
                Sol-gel Process for CRC Fabrication
                       Sol-gel Process for CRC Fabrication (Continued)

CHAPTER FIVE: GLOBAL MARKET 
      ANALYSIS OUTLINE 
      GLOBAL MARKET SUMMARY 
  TABLE 21 GLOBAL MARKET FOR CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES,
     THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
  FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MARKET FOR CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES,
     2008-2015 ($ MILLIONS)
      CURRENT MARKET STATUS 
         CURRENT MARKET SUMMARY 
TABLE 22 GLOBAL MARKET FOR CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES,
   THROUGH 2010 ($ MILLIONS)
FIGURE 4 GLOBAL MARKET FOR CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES,
   2008­2010 ($ MILLIONS)
                Revenues by Matrix Type 
TABLE 23 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: GLOBAL REVENUES
   BY MATRIX TYPE, THROUGH 2010 ($ MILLIONS) 
FIGURE 5 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: MARKET SHARE BY
   MATRIX TYPE, 2010 (%)
                Revenues by Application
                          Revenues by Application (Continued) 
TABLE 24 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: GLOBAL REVENUES
   BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2010 ($ MILLIONS) 
FIGURE 6 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: MARKET SHARE BY
   APPLICATION, 2010 (%)
FIGURE 6 (CONTINUED)
                Revenues by Region 
TABLE 25 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: REVENUES BY
   REGION, THROUGH 2010 ($MILLIONS) 
FIGURE 7 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: MARKET SHARE BY
   REGION, 2010 (%) 
FIGURE 7 (CONTINUED)
    MARKET GROWTH TRENDS
         INDUSTRY GROWTH
                Mechanical/Chemical
TABLE 26 FORECAST--CUTTING TOOLS AND WEAR-RESISTANT
   PARTS: GLOBAL REVENUES, THROUGH 2015 ($ BILLIONS)  
                Energy and Environmental
TABLE 27 FORECAST--HIGH-TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS AND
   POWER GENERATION: GLOBAL REVENUES, THROUGH 2015 ($ BILLIONS) 
                Aerospace and Defense
                Transportation 
TABLE 28 FORECAST--LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS, COMPOSITES,
   FRICTION PRODUCTS, AND EXHAUST FILTERS FOR
   TRANSPORTATION: GLOBAL REVENUES, THROUGH 2015 ($ BILLIONS) 
                Medical and Dental 
                Electronics
TABLE 29 FORECAST--SEMICONDUCTORS: REVENUES BY
   REGION, THROUGH 2015 ($ BILLIONS) 
                Other Industry Sectors
         TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS
           REGIONAL TRENDS 
      PROJECTED CERAMIC COMPOSITE MARKET 
           KEY OBSERVATIONS 
   TABLE 30 FACTORS AFFECTING SALES OF CERAMIC MATRIX
      COMPOSITES, 2015
           MARKET FORECAST
                Revenues by Application
                     Revenues by Application (Continued) 
   TABLE 31 FORECAST--CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
   FIGURE 8 FORECAST--CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: MARKET
      SHARE BY APPLICATION, 2015 (%)
   FIGURE 8 (CONTINUED)
                Revenues by Matrix Type
   TABLE 32 FORECAST--CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY MATRIX TYPE, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
   FIGURE 9 FORECAST--CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: GLOBAL
      MARKET SHARE BY MATRIX TYPE, 2015 (%) 
   FIGURE 9 (CONTINUED)
                     Revenues by Region 
   TABLE 33 FORECAST--CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES:
      REVENUES BY REGION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS)
   FIGURE 10 FORECAST--CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: MARKET
      SHARE BY REGION, 2015 (%)

CHAPTER SIX: GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
      GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 
      MANUFACTURERS OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES
  TABLE 34 MANUFACTURERS OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES 
  TABLE 34 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 34 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 34 (CONTINUED)
  FIGURE 11 MANUFACTURERS OF CERAMIC MATRIX
     COMPOSITES: DISTRIBUTION BY SIZE (NUMBER OF
     COMPANIES)
  TABLE 35 CMC MANUFACTURERS: DISTRIBUTION BY REGION,
     2000 AND 2010 (NUMBER OF COMPANIES)
  FIGURE 12 HISTORICAL GROWTH OF CMC MANUFACTURERS
     (NUMBER OF COMPANIES)
      CMC PRODUCTION BY REGION
  TABLE 36 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: MANUFACTURING BY
     REGION, 2008­2015 (PERCENT OF SALES)
      CMC CONSUMPTION BY REGION
  TABLE 37 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: CONSUMPTION BY
     REGION, 2008­2015 (PERCENT OF SALES) 
         COMPANY PROFILES 
             3M 
             ARMOR USA 
             ASTRO MET 
             BAE SYSTEMS 
             CERADYNE.
                     Ceradyne (Continued) 
             COI CERAMICS
             COORSTEK
             EADS ASTRIUM 
             GE CERAMIC COMPOSITE PRODUCTS
                     Company History
                     Current Activities 
                               Current Activities (Continued) 
             GOODRICH AIRCRAFT WHEELS AND BRAKES
             HITACHI CHEMICAL
             INTEGRA ORTHOBIOLOGICS 
             KENNAMETAL
             KYOCERA
             NANOGRAPHITE MATERIALS
             PORSCHE AUTOMOBIL HOLDING 
             PRATT & WHITNEY
             SANDVIK TOOLING 
             SCHUNK KOHLENSTOFFTECHNIK 
             UBE INDUSTRIES
                     UBE Industries (Continued) 

CHAPTER SEVEN: INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS 
     CMC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 
  TABLE 38 ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN CMC RESEARCH,
    WORLDWIDE 
  TABLE 38 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 38 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 38 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 38 (CONTINUED)
          UNITED STATES
               Argonne National Laboratory 
  TABLE 39 ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY RESEARCH 
               Missouri University of Science and Technology 
  TABLE 40 MISSOURI S&T RESEARCH 
               Oak Ridge National Laboratory 
  TABLE 41 ORNL RESEARCH 
               University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
  TABLE 42 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
    RESEARCH
        EUROPE 
             Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 
TABLE 43 CNRS/LCTS RESEARCH
             EMPA ­ Materials Science and Technology
TABLE 44 EMPA RESEARCH 
             Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institutes 
TABLE 45 FRAUNHOFER ISC RESEARCH
             Imperial College
TABLE 46 IMPERIAL COLLEGE RESEARCH 
             German Aerospace Center 
TABLE 47 DRL RESEARCH 
        ASIA-PACIFIC
             National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
                  Technology 
TABLE 48 AIST RESEARCH
             University of Tokyo
TABLE 49 UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO RESEARCH 
             Shanghai Institute of Ceramics
TABLE 50 SHANGHAI INSTITUTE OF CERAMICS RESEARCH
        SUMMARY OF GLOBAL R&D ACTIVITIES IN CMC
           TECHNOLOGY 
FIGURE 13 CURRENT GLOBAL CMC RESEARCH AND
   DEVELOPMENT BY SUBJECT (%) 
FIGURE 13 (CONTINUED) 
             Industry Initiatives 
TABLE 51 PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN CMC
   RESEARCH
TABLE 51 (CONTINUED)
   OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
        COST FACTOR 
        QUALITY FACTOR 
        TECHNOLOGY FACTOR
        MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY
        KEY GROWTH MARKETS 
TABLE 52 GLOBAL GROWTH FORECAST FOR CURRENT AND
   POTENTIAL CMC APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2015
             Mechanical/Chemical
             Energy and environmental
             Aerospace and Defense 
             Transportation
             Electronics
             Medical/Dental
             Sensors and Instrumentation 
           DRIVING FORCES AND THEIR IMPACT ON MARKET
             GROWTH
   TABLE 53 PERCENTAGE IMPACT OF MAJOR COMPETITIVE
     FACTORS ON THE GROWTH OF THE CMC MARKET, 2010­2015

CHAPTER EIGHT: U.S. PATENT ANALYSIS 
      INTRODUCTION 
      SUMMARY OF PATENTS AWARDED DURING THE PERIOD 2007
        THROUGH 2010 
  TABLE 54 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES--U.S. PATENTS, 2010 
  TABLE 54 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 54 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 54 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 55 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES--U.S. PATENTS, 2009 
  TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 55 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 56 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES--U.S. PATENTS, 2008 
  TABLE 56 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 56 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 56 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 57 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES--U.S. PATENTS, 2007 
  TABLE 57 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 57 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 57 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 57 (CONTINUED)
  TABLE 57 (CONTINUED)
      GENERAL TRENDS
  TABLE 58 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: U.S. PATENT TRENDS,
     2007­2010 
  FIGURE 14 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: U.S. PATENT
     TRENDS, 2007­2010 (NUMBER OF PATENTS) 
      TRENDS BY COUNTRY AND REGION 
  FIGURE 15 SHARES OF U.S. PATENTS RELATED TO CERAMIC
     MATRIX COMPOSITE BY REGION, 2007­2010 (%)
  FIGURE 16 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: PATENTS BY
     COUNTRY, 2007­2010 (NUMBER OF PATENTS) 
      TRENDS BY ASSIGNEE 
  TABLE 59 ASSIGNEES OF U.S. PATENTS RELATED TO CERAMIC
     MATRIX COMPOSITES, 2007­2010 
  FIGURE 17 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: SHARES OF U.S.
     PATENTS BY ORGANIZATION TYPE, 2007­2010 (%)
      TRENDS BY PATENT CATEGORY 
FIGURE 18 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: SHARES OF U.S.
   PATENTS BY CATEGORY, 2007­2010 (%) 
   TRENDS BY APPLICATION
        TRENDS BY APPLICATION (CONTINUED)
FIGURE 19 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: SHARES OF U.S.
   PATENTS BY APPLICATION, 2007­2010 (%) 
   TRENDS BY MATRIX TYPE
FIGURE 20 CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES: SHARES OF U.S.
   PATENTS BY MATRIX TYPE, 2007­2010 (%)