An increase in the use of MMCs for manufacturing structural aerospace composite parts is driving market growth
Fuel efficiency and low weight have always been the foremost factors for using MMC in making structural parts in the aerospace industry. Additionally, these composites have an excellent balance of specific strength and stiffness compared to traditional aerospace materials. The major applications of MMC are aero-structural components and parts in the aero-propulsion system, and its applications are increasing in aeronautical sub-systems with the development of new designs, production systems, and certifications of MMCs.
For instance, the Boeing 777 aircraft uses fan exit guide vanes in its Pratt and Whitney 4084, 4090, and 4098 engines made from aluminum MMC and nozzle actuator links in the General Electric F110 engine made from titanium MMC. Furthermore, a few applications of MMCs have been established in space systems, such as aluminum MMC tubes for the construction of each space shuttle orbital mid-fuselage, mid-frame, frame stabilizing struts, and nose landing gear, where dimensional stability with high performance is required.
The increasing demand for aircraft and the increased number of space missions from various space agencies are expected to drive the MMC market in aerospace applications in the future. This factor drives the Market CAGR.
Additionally, the increasing demand across the manufacturing industry and the growing trends towards handheld devices, smart devices, electronic gadgets, and electrical appliances are propelling manufacturers to adopt highly efficient materials for efficiency. Compared to other aerospace materials, metal matrix composites possess stiffness and specific strength, and the balance between the two is also at the right proportion. Such favorable characteristics promote the metal matrix composites' market value. After the COVID recovery, several industries have adopted advanced technologies and improved production rates. For instance, the Asia-pacific region had improved with an 11% growth in automotive production in one year.
Such vast improvement at the manufacturing and production facility is considered the major driver of metal matrix composites market growth. The growing opportunities in the developed countries under varied applications from various sectors such as aerospace, ground transportation, high-speed machinery, high-speed rotation shafts, crucial applications such as robots, and significant others present lucrative opportunities for the overall growth of the metal matrix composites industry during the forecast period. Thus, driving the Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) market revenue.
Firefly Aerospace Inc., a Cedar Park, Texas-based end-to-end space transportation firm, signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in March 2024 to do a trade study on whether it can quickly launch Firefly’s Elytra vehicles and support missions beyond xGEO – geosynchronous orbit. The latter will lay the groundwork for up to two Firefly demonstration missions that will further the DOD’s responsive access to xGEO.
The ongoing advancements in Metal Matrix Composites are poised to enhance performance across various industries, reflecting a growing recognition of their potential benefits in terms of weight reduction and improved mechanical properties.
U.S. Department of Energy
