Ceramic Armor Materials Market Size

Market Synopsis

The Ceramic Armor Materials Market, in terms of value, is estimated to account for USD 2.80 billion in 2025, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.65%. Ceramic materials are used to design armor. Ceramic plates are inserted in soft ballistic vests, which decreases the penetration ability of projectile. They offer projectile resistance and comprehensive strength. In 2019, CoorsTek has made an investment of USD 26 billion to expand the production of ceramic body armor, ceramic components for the US military personnel.

Ceramic is widely used as a protection textile in the defense industry. Alumina and silicone are considered as vital ceramic fiber materials in the manufacturing of ballistic protection materials. The ceramic plates that are inserted in soft ballistic vests deflect the bullet by pushing it out with the same force. The low cost of ballistic ceramic materials, e.g., alumina, makes it an ideal for use in automobiles, whereas silicon carbide is primarily used to protect vehicles against large projectiles. Military vehicles were traditionally manufactured with the help of armor plate steel, which is now replaced by ceramic composites. Boron nitride armor material is also used in the manufacturing of military aircraft, helicopters, and small boats, among others.

The growth of the aerospace and defense industry is expected to propel the demand for ceramic armor material. Besides, the defense spending in countries such as Japan, China, the US, and India has increased significantly. For instance, the military expenditure in China, India, and Russia increased by 5.4%, 8.5%, and 5.9%, respectively, in 2018. The defense equipment that are high in demand include armored ground vehicles, lightweight air support aircraft, maritime patrol ships, and aircraft. Thus, the growth of the aerospace and defense industry is expected to be the prime factor fueling the demand for ceramic armor material during the forecast period. 

Global Ceramic Armor Materials Market Share, by Type, 2018 (%)  

Source: MRFR Analysis

Regional Analysis

The growth of the North American market is mainly driven by the increase in the US military budget, which has surged the production of ceramic armor materials. In addition, the increasing homeland security concerns due to threats, e.g., terrorist attacks, is likely to drive the demand for ceramic armor materials market during the forecast period.

The increasing cross-border terrorist activities in Asia-Pacific have surged the demand for ceramic armor materials, which is projected to fuel the growth of the Asia-Pacific market. In Europe, the UK is the key manufacturer of aircraft, ships, and automobiles, which has increased the use of ceramic armor materials in the region.  

In the Middle East & Africa and Latin America, armor ceramic material demand is likely to grow at a steadily during the forecast period.

Key Players

Some of the prominent players in the global ceramic armor materials market are 

• 
  Saint-Gobain (France), 


• 3M (US), 


• BAE Systems (UK), 


• Axiom Materials, Inc (US), 


• CoorsTek, Inc (US),


• Morgan Advanced Materials PLC (UK), 


• Safariland, LLC (US), 


• 
  Ultramet (US), 


• Ceramtec (Germany), 


•  CFCCARBON CO, LTD (China), among others.

Market Segmentation

The global ceramic armor materials market has been segmented on the basis of material, application, and region. Based on material, the global ceramic armor materials market has been segregated into boron carbide, silicon carbide, alumina, ceramic matrix composite, titanium boride, aluminum nitride, and others. The demand for boron carbide body armor, i.e., boron carbide bulletproof vest, is increasing in the defense industry across the globe, which is expected to drive the growth of the boron carbide segment. In addition, the increasing demand for titanium boride armor is projected to fuel the demand for global ceramic armor materials market. By application, the global market has been divided into body armor, aircraft armor, marine armor, vehicles armor, and others.

Intended Audience

• Ceramic armor materials producers


• Traders and distributors of ceramic armor materials


• Research and development institutes


• Potential investors


• Raw material suppliers


• Nationalized laboratories