Aerospace Firms Revive 1970s Ceramic Tech to Bypass China Rare Earths
Jet engine makers are testing zirconia coatings to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths, a process that may take years to fully implement.
Key points
- Aerospace suppliers are testing 1970s-era zirconia coatings to replace rare earths disrupted by US-China tensions.
- Oerlikon Metco is selling rare-earth-free thermal barrier coatings made with magnesium and calcium oxides.
- Experts estimate it will take years to break dependency on China, which retains leverage in trade negotiations.
Aerospace suppliers are revisiting decades-old turbine coating formulas as US-China tensions disrupt the supply of critical minerals from the world's dominant producer. The shift is driven by shortages of rare earths, which are essential for jet engine coatings and semiconductor chips used in defense systems.
According to a report by Global Banking & Finance Review, the industry is facing a critical supply chain risk that threatens key parts of jet engine production. Experts indicate that while early efforts are underway, producers remain years away from fully replacing modern rare-earth-based materials or securing adequate domestic supply.
NRC evaluates zirconium dioxide alternatives
The National Research Council of Canada is leading research to determine if non-rare-earth ceramic oxides can match modern performance. The agency is collaborating with industry partners to test zirconium dioxide and other materials from the 1970s and 1980s for use in the hottest sections of jet engines.
Rogerio Lima, a senior research officer at the NRC, noted that improved engineering instruments now allow for the refinement of these older materials. This research aims to address concerns that high prices and supply disruptions could compromise the reliability of thermal barrier coatings.
Oerlikon Metco develops rare-earth-free products
European thermal coatings producer Oerlikon Metco has already begun selling some rare-earth-free products and is developing new zirconia-based coatings. These new formulations utilize magnesium and calcium oxides, materials that predate the current rare-earth-enhanced standards in the industry.
Long-term dependency on China persists
Despite these initiatives, industry officials warn that breaking dependency on China will not happen quickly. Geoffrey Gertz, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, stated that even optimistic scenarios place the solution years, not months, in the future.
This prolonged reliance means China will maintain considerable leverage in trade negotiations with the United States. While recycling surplus coating materials and using alternatives for less critical components may ease constraints, they cannot fully solve the aerospace sector's structural dependence on Chinese rare earths.
