Aerospace Insulation Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Thermal, Acoustic, Electric), By Material, By Application, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Report Overview

The global aerospace insulation market size was valued at USD 8.85 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2020 to 2027. High product adoption in order to follow the stringent safety regulations placed by the Federal Aviation Administration for aircraft insulation is expected to drive the market over the forecast period. An increase in the rate of fleet replacement, where old generation aircraft are being replaced with new-generation aircraft, is expected to benefit the market growth. In addition, a surge in demand for fuel-efficient engines with corrosion-resistant insulation is anticipated to bolster the demand for aerospace insulation over the projected period. The presence of established aircraft manufacturers in the U.S. is expected to boost the demand for aerospace insulation in the country. In addition, the surge in passenger and freight traffic in the country, leading to a rise in MRO activities for commercial aircraft, is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

The selection of the materials used for insulation of commercial, military, business, and general aviation aircraft, as well as spacecraft, follow the regulations placed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and Boeing. Noise reduction, durability, fire resistance, static resistance, and cleanability are some of the parameters considered while selecting the material.

The market comprises a large number of manufacturers as well as material suppliers. The suppliers in the market indulge in notable price negotiations with the manufacturers as they often provide customized solutions depending upon the application, thereby increasing the bargaining power of the suppliers in the market.

The pandemic situation has severely impacted the aerospace and aviation industry. With restrictions on international as well as domestic passenger movement, the airlines are operating on minimum profit, which may affect the aircraft orders. This is expected to have an adverse effect on market growth.

Material Insights

Ceramic materials accounted for the largest market share of 48.6% in 2019 and are expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. This is attributed to their beneficial properties, such as extreme heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and lightweight. These materials are widely used for a number of aerospace applications, including exhaust systems and engines, thermal protection shields, brakes, bearings, seals, and other wear-resistant components.

Foamed plastics are widely used in the insulation of commercial aircraft for enhanced passenger safety, greater acoustic comfort, improved fuel efficiency, and easier installation and maintenance. The material is preferred owing to its excellent thermal and acoustic capability, fire resistance, and lightweight.

Fiberglass is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2020 to 2027. This can be attributed to the optimum thermal and acoustical insulating performance of the material for applications up to 450 °F. It is preferably used for the insulation of fuselage wall cavities for commercial aircraft.

The market is expected to witness increasing demand for composite materials for thermal as well as acoustic insulation on account of its declining prices, which is expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period. The composites are also used for electrical insulation owing to the demand for lightweight materials with enhanced performance.

End-use Insights

The commercial segment including passenger and Freightliner aircraft is one of the major application areas of insulation in the aerospace industry. The segment accounted for the largest share of over 55.0% in 2019 and is anticipated to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. The utilization of insulation in aircraft aids in thermal and acoustic insulation, which further improves passenger comfort and experience. In addition, insulation materials in freight liners are primarily installed to improve the thermal insulation, thus protecting the contents during logistics.

The military segment accounted for a significant share of the market in 2019 owing to the increasing use of aerospace insulation for thermal damping in the engine bay. Furthermore, military aircraft including cargo and jets use insulation materials, such as blankets, lining, firewalls, and seals, extensively for electrical insulation and fire barrier, thus promoting its use over the forecast period.

The business and general aviation segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to the growing use of aerospace insulation in the fuselage for acoustic as well as anti-vibration properties. Furthermore, the use of insulation significantly improves passenger comfort, especially in the business aircraft segment.

Product Insights

Thermal insulation held the largest share of 66.3% in 2019 owing to the extensive use of thermal insulation in aircraft manufacturing as well as aftermarket. Thermal insulation is mainly used to provide a heat shield for engine components as well as thrust reversers and ducts. The application of thermal insulation provides the necessary fire barrier to the components from high temperatures.

Thermal insulation provides fire resistance in high-intensity environments. Thermal insulation also helps to economically produce a comfortable cabin temperature, which varies with aircraft type and location. Ceramic materials are predominantly used for thermal insulation, followed by fiberglass.

Electric insulation is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 5.1% from 2020 to 2027 owing to the application of electric insulation in essential electric systems, such as in-flight control systems and navigation and communication systems. In addition, the frequent need for replacement of electrical insulation is expected to boost the segment growth.

Acoustic insulation is used to reduce the noise and vibrations generated by engines and aerodynamics in order to provide comfort inside the flight deck and passenger cabin. Though the type of acoustic insulation varies from aircraft to aircraft, fiberglass being a highly efficient acoustic attenuator is often preferred.

Application Insights

The aerostructure segment dominated the market with a share of 59.0% in 2019 and is expected to maintain its lead over the forecast period. The segment comprises fuselage, door pairings, wings, and airframe, which require insulation in maintaining a comfortable temperature in the cabin interior and flight deck.

The segment has witnessed enhancement of product portfolio by the manufacturers, including thermal and acoustic insulation, which varies from aircraft to aircraft. Commercial aircraft are estimated to witness high demand for thermal and acoustic insulation of aerostructure components over the forecast period.

Engine insulation is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 4.6% from 2020 to 2027 as engines are one of the most significant parts of an aircraft, which provide the necessary thrust to move an aircraft through the air. The engine and propulsion system comprises a propeller system, turbines, bearing bushes, and nacelles.

The engine segment is expected to exhibit significant demand for thermal insulation as it is vital to maintain the temperature and prevent overheating of the engine for its smooth functioning. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed regulations on the use of acoustic insulation to reduce the noise generated by engines, which is expected to boost the segment growth.

Insulation technology in aircraft is further aimed at enhancing passenger safety and acoustic comfort, improving fuel efficiency, and making installation and maintenance schedules easier. In addition, many military aircraft use thrust reversal systems, which reverse the engine thrust forward during deceleration, thus increasing the need for superior thermal resistance around the engine bay, particularly in military aircraft.

Regional Insights

North America held the largest share of 40.74% in 2019. The region is expected to witness a growing demand for fuel-efficient aircraft in the next few years on account of rising fuel prices. The high replacement rate mainly for regional aircraft is fueling the growth of the matured aerospace industry, which, in turn, is expected to increase the demand for aircraft insulation over the forecast period.

Europe is a significant regional market owing to the presence of major manufacturers involved in commercial, military, and business jets. The growing use of aerospace insulation in Germany, France, the U.K., and other European countries in airplane manufacturing is expected to enhance the growth of the regional market over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 6.4% from 2020 to 2027. Emerging economies in the Asia Pacific, including China, India, and Japan, are largely fueling the growth of the aerospace industry due to the emergence of the aircraft manufacturing industry in the region, which, in turn, is expected to propel the demand for aerospace insulation over the forecast period.

Brazil is one of the strongest competitors in aircraft manufacturing in the global market. Embraer is one of the leading aircraft manufacturers located in Brazil and is expected to fuel the demand in Central and South America. The rising number of air passengers in the region, coupled with new orders to support the same, is expected to fuel the demand for aerospace insulation over the projected period.

Key Players & Market Share Insights

The market has been characterized by intense competition due to the presence of established players that hold the majority of the market share owing to their wider geographical reach and vast product portfolio. These companies develop a strong business model in order to adapt to market volatility and any technological and geographical change. Some of the prominent players in the global aerospace insulation market include:

• Duracote Corporation

• Rogers Corporation

• Dupont

• BASF SE

• 3M

• Esterline Technologies Corporation

• Triumph Group Inc.

• Zodiac Aerospace

• Evonik Industries

• Polymer Technologies Inc.

• Zotefoams

• UPF Corporation

• Boyd Corporation

• Johns Manville

• Orcon

• AVS Industries

Aerospace Insulation Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis on the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global aerospace insulation market report on the basis of material, product, application, end use, and region:

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Ceramic Materials

  • Mineral Wool

  • Foamed Plastics

  • Fiberglass

  • Others

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Thermal Insulation

  • Acoustic Insulation

  • Electric Insulation

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Engine

  • Aerostructure

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Commercial

  • Military

  • Business & General Aviation

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa