Recent US and Global Forecasts

It is likely that cordierite, titanate and zirconate ceramics will record the most rapid rates of growth, due to their uses in environmental systems, medical products, electronic components, and household appUances. A continued expansion in electronic component shipments will provide opportunities for titanate per-ovskites and other ceramics. Nonetheless, cordierite, titanates and other ceramics will undoubtedly benefit from a continued, environmentally driven trend to reduce the amounts of particulates, nitrogen oxides (NO,), and sulfur oxides that are released into the atmosphere. Technological advances in the medical product market will also provide many opportunities, notably for monohthic ceramics such as alumina and zirconia used for femoral balls in hip endoprostheses, as well as biocompatible hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate coatings for the metal stems of hip implants (see also Chapter 10). Likewise, dental ceramics wiU continue to experience high growth rates through 2010. 

In contrast to the above proposals, it is likely that other advanced ceramics-notably alumina, beryllia, sihcon carbide and sUicon nitride (see Chapter 11)-will demonstrate below-average growth rates owing to environmental concerns, competition from other ceramics (see Table 6.4), and an increasing reUance on slower-growing market segments such as cutting tools that are based on ceramic alloys (e.g., modified alumina and SiAlONs). In this situation, whilst alumina will surely remain the prominent material, its market share wiU be eroded by ferrites, and by beryllia- and zirconia-based ceramics. 

The demand for advanced ceramics in the industrial machinery market is projected to increase by 5.3% each year through 2010, from a weak 2005 base. In this case, the primary driving force will be the cyclical recovery in industrial markets following the downturn of the early 2000s. 

Transportation equipment wiU also post healthy gains, with growth resulting from an acceleration in the production of both aerospace and motor vehicle equipment, as well as through the increased use of ceramics in catalytic converter substrates, engine bearings, ceramic armor for military vehicles, diesel engine particulate filters, and ceramic matrix composite brakes. 

Monolithic ceramics represent the dominant and best-estabhshed segment of the industry. These products will experience more rapid gains, due primarily to their use in the key electronic components market that is expected to rebound from the low growth rates experienced during the period between 2000 and 2005. 

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