Aviation Coatings Market

The presence of a distinct domain for quality management within the aviation industry has played a vital role in driving sales across the global aviation coatings market. The aviation industry is characterized by a rigorous process of testing and analysis, and this factor is at the helm of market growth and maturity. Furthermore, the need for fostering safety and improved quality during the manufacturing process has also given a thrust to market growth. The investment portfolio of the global aviation coatings market is set to improve in the times to follow. The quest of the aviation industry to achieve the highest standards of safety has also helped in driving market demand.

• Marketing efforts of manufacturers have undergone noticeable developments in recent times. The strategies of market players are more aligned with cross-marketing techniques. The aerospace industry has emerged as an important contributor to the growth of the global aviation coatings market. The importance of emblazoning logos of various entities on aviation and aerospace equipment has increased the demand for high-quality coatings. Furthermore, availability of a wide range of coatings has offered end-users with new options. Henceforth, the aviation coatings market endows key opportunities for market growth and maturity.
• On a regional footing, the global aviation coatings consist of important segments such as North America, South America, and Europe. These regions have been at the helm of advancements in the aerospace industry. The supremacy of indigenous defense and aerospace technologies of these regions has led to increased demand for aviation coatings.
• In terms of innovation, manufacturers of aviation coatings have made earnest efforts to provide new types of aviation coatings. Quality has remained the most important preference of end-users in the market. Several new types of mission aircrafts have been added to existing fleets. This factor shall also help in driving sales across the global aviation coatings market.

Coating is a layer of covering applied on the surface of objects not only for appearance, but also for functional purposes. Temperature variation in the air impacts the structural dimensions of an aircraft; therefore, aviation coatings are applied to exteriors and interiors of the aircraft to protect it from the environment, thereby reducing corrosion and erosion. These coatings are used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and players in the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) industry as well. Demand for lightweight products is a major criteria for components in an aircraft, especially in airframe and outer skin of the aircraft. Metals such as aluminum and its alloys are used to make the airframe and skin. These metals are subjected to corrosion. Protective coatings are applied on metal components to prevent or reduce corrosion and to provide an appealing appearance to the aircraft. Coatings with low volume of volatile organic component (VOC) tend to reduce the release of organic solvents in the atmosphere, thereby protecting the environment.

Aviation coating consists of a primer and a top coat. Corrosion of the substrate is inhibited by the primer and the appearance of the component is enhanced by top coat. The top coat also helps to increase durability of coatings. Coating can be applied as one layer or as multiple layers. The primer present in the multi-layer coating is an organic polymer and has anti-corrosion property due to the presence of dispersed chromate corrosion-inhibiting compounds in it. Uni-layer coating, also known as unicoat, contains compounds inhibiting corrosion and other colored pigments that provide a decorative and appealing appearance to the aircraft.

Coatings in the aviation industry are applied on different sections of an aircraft, such as combustion chamber, turbine, and compressor. Coatings are applied to aircraft components such as combustion flame tubes, compressor air foils, turbine air foils, fuel nozzles, fuel swirlers, compressor drums, discs and shafts, and bearings and accessories. The objective of coatings is not the same for all components, for instance coatings on blades, stators, vanes of compressors provide corrosion resistance. Whereas, coatings are used as sealing on compressor cases. Other aircraft components subjected to coatings include gas generator case, diffuser case, spacers, hubs, shafts in the compressor, blade tips, brush seals, thrust frame boss & clevis, and exhaust fairing pins & bushings in the turbine, among others.

Regulations on eco-efficiency have influenced recent developments in the aviation coatings industry. Innovations in the coating products are focused mainly to address toxicity, emissions, hazardous potential, etc. Newly launched aviation coatings have longer shelf-life and contain low volume of toxic ingredients, which meet the regulatory standards. Europe and the Government in Canada, the U.S, and Australia have stringent regulations to curb coating-related VOC emissions. These regulations have given rise to research & development in the coating industry.

Currently, major demand for aviation coating is witnessed in North America followed by Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Rest of the World. However, the market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a rapid pace in the coming years and is likely to hold a significant share of the aviation coatings market. The reason behind Asia Pacific occupying a major share is the rising demand for aviation coatings in commercial airlines and military sector of countries such as China.

Key players operating in the global aviation coating market include AkzoNobel N.V, PPG Industries, Inc., Aerospace Coatings International, BASF SE, Aerospace Coating Systems, Inc., Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings, Henkel AG & Co., Mapaero, Tennant Coatings, National Coatings and Supplies, Hohman Plating, MankiewiczGebr. & Co., Ionbond AG and Hentzen Coatings.