Aerospace Firms Test 1970s Coatings to Cut China Rare-Earth Reliance
Suppliers are reviving obsolete ceramic formulas to mitigate supply risks from China's dominant rare-earth market.
Key points
- Aerospace suppliers are testing 1970s-era ceramic oxides to replace rare-earth-based thermal barrier coatings.
- Oerlikon Metco is developing zirconia-based coatings using magnesium and calcium oxides to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths.
- Experts state that breaking dependency on China for rare earths is a multi-year process, leaving significant trade leverage with Beijing.
Aerospace suppliers are revisiting decades-old turbine coating formulas as US-China tensions disrupt supplies of critical minerals. The shift aims to reduce dependency on rare earths, for which China maintains a near-monopoly in global production.
According to Yahoo Finance, the renewed interest stems from supply disruptions and rising prices that threaten jet-engine supply chains. Manufacturers are exploring non-rare-earth alternatives to stabilize production costs and mitigate geopolitical risks in critical components.
Reviving obsolete ceramic oxide materials
The National Research Council of Canada is leading evaluations of zirconium dioxide and other ceramic oxides from the 1970s and 1980s. These legacy materials are being tested against modern rare-earth-based thermal barrier coatings used in the hottest sections of jet engines.
Rogerio Lima, a senior research officer at the NRC, noted that improved instrumentation and engineering capabilities allow for the refinement of these older materials. The goal is to achieve comparable performance levels without relying on scarce rare-earth elements.
Industry players adopt alternative coatings
Oerlikon Metco, a European thermal coatings producer, already sells rare-earth-free products and is developing zirconia-based coatings using magnesium and calcium oxides. These solutions predate current rare-earth-enhanced materials and represent a viable interim strategy for manufacturers.
US thermal-coating suppliers are also exploring non-rare-earth alternatives for less critical components, while recycling surplus coating materials offers another avenue to ease supply constraints. These measures aim to alleviate immediate shortages rather than provide a complete long-term solution.
Persistent structural dependency on China
Experts warn that breaking dependency on China for rare earths is a multi-year process rather than a short-term fix. Geoffrey Gertz, a former White House National Security Council official, stated that even optimistic scenarios place independence years away.
This prolonged reliance means China will continue to hold considerable leverage in trade negotiations with the United States. The aerospace sector must therefore manage supply risks while longer-term material substitutions mature.
