Transparent Ceramics Market Forecasts to 2028 - Global Analysis By Material (Sapphire, Spinel, Yttrium Aluminum Garnet ), Type, Structure, Application, End User, and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Transparent Ceramics Market is accounted for $635.14 million in 2022 and is expected to reach $1,840.32 million by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 19.4% during the forecast period. Transparent ceramics are the materials that broadcast light along with combining advantages of ceramic materials. They are better substitute for the traditional materials in applications that demand high-quality transparency however robust mechanical properties. It is widely used in optics &sensors, defense, healthcare, and aerospace applications. These ceramics are engineered ceramic materials with the added advantage of transparency. The use of transparent ceramics is widely increasing as a substitute for glass, metal, and plastics. These ceramics can also be shaped more freely. Additionally, they are more efficient than single crystals.

According to the World Bank report, military expenditure in current USD in China and India has increased from 86.2362 billion and 33.002 billion in 2008 to 249.997 billion and 66.51 billion in 2018, showing a growth rate of nearly 190% and 101% respectively. Moreover, with the advance of digitalization boosting demand and expanding exports, global production by Japanese electronics and IT companies is expected to grow 8% year on year in 2021 to JPY 37,300 billion.

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

High thermal steadiness of transparent ceramics

Owing to the high thermal steadiness and abrasion resistance, these ceramics have now replaced conventional glasses and they are widely used in various commercial activities such as the manufacturing of electromagnetic (EM) radomes, IR radomes, sensor protection, and multi-spectral windows. Sapphire, which is a type of transparent ceramic material, is commonly used in high-speed, infrared-guided missile domes. This can be attributed to their excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties as compared to standard glass. As a result of superior mechanical properties and high mechanical strength as compared to the conventional materials (such as metal, glass, and plastics), the transparent ceramics are widely used in military and other commercial use, including scintillators for medical diagnostics, infrared transparent materials for armors, missile domes, sensor windows and others, which in turn is anticipated to propel the growth of the global transparent ceramics market.

Restraint:

High cost of transparent ceramics

These ceramics need machining to get components with a precise shape and size, before they are employed in end-use industries, which entails high capital costs. This factor is hampering the market. These ceramics are generally used in all major applications such as optics, aerospace, spacecraft, chemical, mechanical, and consumer products. The high prices of raw materials raise the cost of these ceramics, thereby increasing the prices of end products. Thus, end-use industries are compelled to seek low-cost substitutes for these raw materials. Moreover, the increasing demand in current and emerging markets present new commercialization opportunities for these films in terms of volumes and costs. Therefore, manufacturers are trying to develop cheaper alternative to ITOs to make the production of smartphones more economical.

Opportunity:

Developments in the global optoelectronics industry

Developments in the global optoelectronics industry will be the opportunity for the global market growth over the study period. The sale of optoelectronics, sensor, and discrete (O-S-D) components by leading vendors in 2017 was approximately USD 75 billion, which crossed USD 82 billion in 2018. Such rising demand in the optoelectronics market will spur the demand for transparent ceramics products as they are widely used for manufacturing optical switches, laser systems, lenses, infrared night vision devices, etc. Fast growth trends in the Asia Pacific countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, and India in the field of optoelectronics will also signify the product market over the coming years. China is expected to be a major market for the optics & optoelectronics transparent ceramics due to low labor cost and potential high demand for transparent ceramics across various emerging applications.

Threat:

Concerns associated with transparent ceramics

Numerous types of these ceramics have manifold chemical ingredients that could affect people with many skin-related issues. Such a factor is expected to hinder the product's sales and in turn act as a key restraint factor towards the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Additionally, the recycling challenges involved with sapphire and other transparent ceramics may further hamper the growth of the market. All these factors coupled with the non-recyclable and non-repairable nature of transparent ceramics will act as a restraint for the global market during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact

Due to halt in production activities owing to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by governments, the transparent ceramics market growth experienced a downturn. Due to restrictions on production and trade activities as well as irregularity in supply chain for raw materials, the market was heavily impacted. COVID-19 pandemic caused a ban on imports and export, thereby disrupting the supply chain and hampering the transparent ceramics market growth. During COVID-19, the demand for transparent ceramics decreased from the aerospace, instrumentation, and consumer goods industries, as the operations of these industries were shut due to lockdown.

The sapphire segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

The sapphire segment is estimated to have a lucrative growth, due to positive outlook for optoelectronics in emerging economies of Asia Pacific and increasing production of electronic devices with touchscreen displays using sapphire in economies such as China, Japan and India. Sapphire is a hard, durable, and scratch-resistant material with a transmission range from UV to IR wavelengths. It is an extremely favorable transparent ceramic when the electronics industry is concerned. It offers superior mechanical properties. It is preferred owing to the ease of manufacturing and scalability of production along with the customizability of shape.

The monocrystalline transparent ceramics segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The monocrystalline transparent ceramics segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR growth during the forecast period, due to increasing adoption of ceramic brackets in the healthcare industry and their wide use in aerospace and optoelectronics, defense & security applications as they possess excellent mechanical strength along with high optical transparency. Monocrystalline ceramics are single crystals of a characteristic crystal lattice, which are free from surface defects and internal pore irregularities. These are ideally suitable for applications that require high optical transparency and mechanical strength. These advantages are beneficial for applications in radiation detection, particle detection, and X-ray devices used for security reasons, gas exploration, optics, and electronics.

Region with highest share:

Europe is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period, due to the stringent regulation, decreasing defense budget in many countries, the rise in industrial automation, and technological reforms in the region. Moreover, the ceramic & glass refractory and iron & steel industry drive the market growth in Europe. Europe provides the global transparent market with opportunities for technological advancements due to the presence of global players such as Saint Gobain.

Region with highest CAGR:

Asia Pacific is projected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to the low labor cost, growing demand from electronics and defense industries in major economies such as China and India, and high demand for these ceramics across numerous applications. The region offers potential opportunity due to its strong customer base, strong manufacturing base, and governmental regulations that favor foreign investments, leading to market growth in the emerging countries. China is a key country of the market in Asia Pacific, owing to the growth of industries such as electronics and energy. China is a major hub for electronics products that employs transparent ceramics due to the latter's superior properties over metals and alloys.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players profiled in the Transparent Ceramics Market include Koninklijke Philips N.V., CeraNova Corporation, Schott AG, General Electric Company, CeramTec GmbH, II-VI Optical Systems, Konoshima Chemical Co. Ltd., CoorsTek Inc., CILAS, Surmet Corporation, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Brightcrystals Technology Inc., 3M Company, Kyocera Corporation, and Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Key Developments:

In June 2021, 3M announced that 3M Nextel 312 ceramic fibers and textiles had been released from export license requirements under the U.S. Commerce Control List (CCL), export control classification number (ECCN) 1C010.c. Nextel 312 products can perform at higher operating temperatures compared to other high-temperature textile materials such as aramids, quartz, or glass.

In February, 2021, II-VI Incorporated, a leader in engineered materials and laser optics, announced the introduction of its ceramic YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) platform for solid-state lasers and optical components. II-VI's new ceramic YAG is based on a proprietary production process that is more scalable than crystalline YAG.

In February 2017, CeramTec acquired UK electro-ceramics business from Morgan Advanced Materials. The acquisition comprises two manufacturing sites at Ruabon and Southampton, from Morgan Advanced Materials plc. This acquisition has helped CeramTec to increase customer base and product portfolio in European market.

In December 2014, CoorsTek, Inc. acquired Covalent Materials Corporation, a Japan based engineered ceramics manufacturer. This acquisition has helped CoorsTek, Inc. to increase customer base and overall market presence in Asian market.

Materials Covered:

• Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG)
• Aluminum Oxynitride (ALON)
• Sapphire
• Spinel
• Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ)
• Magnesium Aluminate Spinel
• Other Materials

Types Covered:

• Polycrystalline Transparent Ceramics
• Monocrystalline Transparent Ceramics
• Other Types

Structures Covered:

• Non-Crystalline
• Crystalline

Applications Covered:

• Transparent Armor
• Domes & Windows
• Sensors & Instrumentation
• Other Applications

End Users Covered:

• Defense & Security
• Consumer Goods, Electrical and Electronics
• Optics & Optoelectronics
• Healthcare Equipment
• Mechanical/Chemical
• Energy
• Medical
• Aerospace & Aviation
• Other End Users

Regions Covered:

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • Italy
  • France
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Qatar
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:

• Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
• Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
• Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
• Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
• Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
• Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
• Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
• Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

• Company Profiling
  • Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
  • SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)
• Regional Segmentation
  • Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
• Competitive Benchmarking
  • Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances