Mar 11, 2021/IndustryNewsGlobal/ The unexpected shifts in the global markets because of the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 virus have brought many major and minor tremors to industries of all sizes including the Aircraft Interior Elastomers Market.

It was estimated prior to this unanticipated outbreak that the Aircraft Interior Elastomers Market to reach US$ 45.5 million during the forecast period. However, the gradual slowing down of industries will undoubtedly impose limits on the previously estimated growth rate.

Polymer – a term that covers three main groups called thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Elastomers are polymers which possess the property of elasticity. They have a low Young’s modulus and high yield strain as compared to other materials. Elastomers are amorphous polymers that exist above their glass transition temperature, resulting in a possibility of considerable segmental motion. Hence, they are relatively soft and deformable at ambient temperatures. Elastomers can be thermosets (requiring a form of crosslinking called vulcanization) or thermoplastic (called TPE or thermoplastic elastomer). In the aircraft industry, elastomers are majorly used to fabricate seals, gaskets, hoses & tubes, profiles, isolators, and dampers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the already troubled aerospace industry, which was expected to be recovering from some burning challenges from the second half of 2020 with FAA’s approval to Boeing for B737 max. Aircraft elastomers business could not escape itself from this changing market conditions and are estimated to witness a humongous decline in 2020, mainly due to the pandemic. Airlines are either canceling their orders or requesting airframers to delay the aircraft deliveries, which, in turn, heavily impacting the business of OEMs, tier players, as well as raw material suppliers including elastomers for aircraft interiors.

Segment Analysis

The aircraft interior elastomers market is segmented based on the platform type as commercial aircraft, regional aircraft, and general aviation. Commercial aircraft is further sub-segmented into narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, and very large aircraft. Commercial aircraft is expected to remain the largest as well as the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. Strong order backlogs of the best-selling aircraft programs, such as B737 and A320 including their variants; upcoming aircraft programs, such as C919 and MC-21 are likely to revive the market, in the long run, creating a healthy demand for elastomers in the commercial aircraft segment.

Based on the material type, the market is segmented as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), silicone, fluoroelastomers, nitrile rubber (NBR), polychloroprene or neoprene (CR), and others. Silicone is expected to remain the largest segment of the market during the forecast period, propelled by its outstanding properties. Silicone offers excellent heat resistance, cold flexibility, dielectric properties, and good resistance to oxygen and ozone; and have operating temperatures ranging between -60°C and 200°C. Silicone elastomers are replacing neoprene in many aviation seals as it is up to 15% lighter. Furthermore, there have been advancements in silicone polymers, resulting in even lighter grades as compared to the existing ones.

Based on the product type, the market is segmented as seals, gaskets, hoses & tubes, and others. Gaskets are likely to remain the most dominant segment of the market during the forecast period. Gaskets serve environmental sealing purposes, pressure retaining, vibration damping, fire-resistant or fireproof, and EMI/RFI shielding. They are mostly produced via an extrusion process. In aircraft interiors, gaskets are majorly used in doors & windows, sidewall panels, ceiling panels, galleys, and lavatories.

Regional Insights                                            

Despite severely hit the aerospace industry in the USA because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that North America will maintain its dominance in the aircraft interior elastomers during the forecast period. The USA has one of the largest fleets of commercial aircraft in the world. Due to the presence of major companies, the region is the early go-getter in the industry concerning technology and material adoption.  The opening of assembly plants of the A320 and A220 aircraft programs by Airbus in the USA further assures a healthy growth of the market in the region in the long run.

Key Players:

Key players operating in the global Aircraft Interior Elastomers market are-

• Trelleborg AB

• Meggitt PLC

• Kirkhill, Inc.

• Freudenberg Group

• Hutchinson SA

• The Dow Chemical Company

• Wacker Chemie AG

• Solvay SA

• Saint Gobain S.A.

• The Chemours Company.

Features of the Report

This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.

The Aircraft Interior Elastomers analysis report discusses the following heads in great detail:

• Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis

• COVID-19 Impact Assessment

• Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis

• Market trend and forecast analysis

• Market segment trend and forecast

• Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

• Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities

• Emerging trends

• Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players

• Key success factors