Using silicon carbide is one of the most important processes in aerospace and defense technology. It can help improve the quality and longevity of your components. This article looks at how research, applications and partnerships can increase the market for silicon carbide. It also looks at how silicon carbide companies can grow and thrive in this market.
Across Europe, silicon carbide is used in a variety of applications. It is a common material used in many industries and is also a component of semiconductor substrates. Its properties offer high power density and low cost.
Silicon carbide is used in a number of applications, including power inverters, fast charging batteries, and e-vehicles. It outperforms pure silicon-based semiconductors in several applications. In addition, it offers reduced power losses at high frequencies. However, it is difficult to produce silicon carbide on a large scale. There are other substitutes, such as graphene, that are also available. Inability to manufacture high-quality graphene on a large scale is expected to inhibit market growth.
Research and development initiatives are rapidly increasing, which has had an impact on the silicon carbide industry. These initiatives are aimed at developing and improving technologies for the industry.
Various aerospace and defense applications are using silicon carbide. Some of these include wear resistant parts, sandblasting injectors, furnace rollers, automotive water pump seals, and solar energy systems.
The aerospace and defense industry is a key segment of the semiconductor market, as it has unique requirements when it comes to power equipment. The sector requires compactness, low noise generation, and low fuel consumption. It also wants to reduce the size and weight of its subsystems, which are increasingly becoming broadband.
The aerospace and defense sectors are moving towards silicon carbide and gaN solutions to meet these needs. These materials provide a solution for increasing power density and reducing the size of the power converters. They are particularly important for avionic designs with SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) constraints.
Various growth strategies have been adopted by leading market players to gain a strong position in the silicon carbide market. These strategies include product launches, contract negotiations, partnerships, collaborations, and product expansion.
Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest market throughout the forecast period. South Korea and Japan are the most important markets in this region. Its growing demand for electric vehicles is a key driver for the silicon carbide market. Globally, approximately three million electric vehicles were sold in 2020. This number is expected to rise to around 80 million passenger cars by the end of 2025.
China is also a noteworthy market in Asia. The country accounted for 47% of global sales of electric buses in 2019. The country's mining industries resumed normal operations in the third quarter of 2020.
Compared to traditional carbide-matrix composites, silicon carbide fiber reinforced SiC-matrix cermets have inherent advantages. They are suitable for high temperature structural applications and exhibit resistance to corrosion and oxidation. These materials are widely used to enhance aerospace applications. They also have radiation resistance and low activation. Currently, they are under development for fusion applications worldwide.
The thermal protection materials branch of the NASA Ames Research Center has made significant progress in developing new CMCs. They are also working on Zr and Hf-based ceramics. Their emphasis is on durability improvements and performance enhancements. This research has produced several candidate materials for use in the next-generation engine. These technologies are targeted at structural applications up to 2700degF. The system is designed to improve performance while addressing limitations in design and materials.
During the first eight months of the year, semiconductor M&A deals topped out at USD 94.5 billion. This figure is set to increase considerably in the coming months. A sampling of the best deals are slated to hit the books by the end of the year. These include Intel's sale of its 300mm fab in China, a $100 million contract with Dongguan Tianyu Semiconductor Technology to supply 150 mm silicon carbide substrates, and the largest of all, a proposed USD 750 million acquisition of Samsung's semiconductor arm by SanDisk.
For example, Intel reportedly had an open offer to purchase GlobalFoundries. While a deal of this magnitude is far from a given, it is not inconceivable that the company could pull off the feat.
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