Hybrid Composites Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Consumption, Revenue, Company Analysis, Regional Insights and Forecast 2020-2027

The global hybrid composites market size was valued at USD 534.2 million in 2019 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Growing product demand in end-use industries including automotive & transportation, aerospace & defense, and wind energy is anticipated to drive the market over the forecast period. Hybrid composites are the composite materials that are fabricated in combination with two or more types of fibers in the common matrix, which provides a synergistic effect of the properties of the fabrics on the overall properties of composites. Hybrid composites offer enhanced mechanical properties, compared to traditional products, which include high strength, low density, and high impact resistance.

Hybrid composite products play an essential role in the manufacturing of automotive and aircraft parts. Growing concerns regarding fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels have compelled manufacturers to use these materials as substitutes for metal components. This will also boost the market growth. Technological innovations to minimize the manufacturing cycle time is expected to propel the product demand in the automotive sector.

Hybrid composites offer improved mechanical properties, possible cost reduction, and overall amenability compared to conventional processing techniques. The aerospace and marine industries are tapping into the innovative technology to get composites with a lower weight, higher specific strength, high stiffness, and corrosion resistance, especially under extreme conditions. However, high costs and relatively immature manufacturing technology and complex fabrication methods are expected to hinder the market growth over the forecast period.

Fiber Type Insights

In terms of revenue, carbon/glass hybrid composites anticipated to dominate the market, accounting for 38.5% of overall market share in 2019 owing to the increasing demand from the automotive, aerospace, and marine industries. Carbon/glass hybrid composites are lightweight materials that reduce the weight of wind blades and vehicles

Carbon/glass woven fabrics with epoxy resin matrix are utilized for producing hybrid composite laminates. These composites offer properties, such as low thermal expansion, high stiffness, high-temperature tolerance, high chemical resistance, and low weight, which boosts their demand in industrial and other applications.

Carbon/aramid is anticipated to be the second-largest fiber type segment over the forecast period owing to the increasing penetration of these composites in the aerospace and defense industry. Carbon/aramid products offer enhanced stiffness, high strength, high impact resistance, and increased fracture resistance.

Hybrid composites comprising High Modulus Polypropylene (HMPP) fibers offer toughness, ballistic resistance, and dielectric constant depending on what other fiber types they are mixed with. HMPP with carbon fiber offers increased toughness with a small weight penalty and a significant cost decrease. HMPP with glass offers significant weight reduction and enhanced toughness.

End-Use Insights

The automotive and transportation end-use segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of 13.7% from 2020 to 2027 owing to the increasing demand for lightweight, and highly fuel-efficient vehicles. The growing importance of lightweight railway components is also expected to augment the demand for hybrid composites in the transportation industry over the forecast period. Aerospace & defense is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the market. High-performance and highly rigid materials are required in aircraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles.

Hybrid composites are a natural fit for renewable energy products. Thus, the wind energy end-use segment is projected to register a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The primary intent for using these materials in the wind energy sector is to keep the blade weight under control.

Composites have made good inroads in the marine sector as well owing to their excellent impact resistance property. They are used to craft racing powerboats with higher performance and enhanced driver safety. Structural elements, such as bow modules, hatch covers, deckhouses, and king posts are manufactured using these composites.

Resin Type Insights

In terms of revenue, thermoset resin is anticipated to dominate the market with a market share of 617% in 2019 owing to its outstanding strength and crack resistance properties. These resins are highly suitable for usage in automotive & transportation and aerospace end-use industries, which requires lightweight materials with high strength and flammability performance.

Thermoset or thermosetting hybrid composites are synthetic materials that strengthen when they are heated; however, cannot be remolded after the initial heating. These products are stronger owing to the cross-linking and are suited for use in high-temperature applications. Ascending demand for composite materials in transportation and aerospace & defense applications is expected to boost the growth of the thermosetting segment in the Asia Pacific region.

Thermoplastics are less expensive, non-toxic in nature, weldable, recyclable for other processes, and have better toughness. A broad range of thermoplastic resins is used in composites, such as PET, polypropylene, and PVC. Thermoplastics resins are used owing to their increased impact resistance and ability to reform as compared to thermosetting resins.

Thermoplastics have a high potential for mass-producing lightweight structural parts compared to thermoset-based composites, which go through the time-consuming chemical cross-linking process. The thermoplastic-based hybrid composites are typically processed using only heat and pressure.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific is projected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 14.5% over the forecast period owing to the expansion of the manufacturing sector coupled with robust growth in automotive production in the region. The region is also one of the most lucrative destinations for construction, aerospace, and electronics sectors owing to the strong presence of key manufacturers in countries, such as China, India, and Japan.

The demand for hybrid composites in North America is majorly driven by the growth of the aerospace & defense, marine, and automotive industries. The U.S. is one of the major manufacturers of commercial aircraft, cargo jets, large passenger aircraft, and defense aircraft, which is anticipated to drive the market over the forecast period.

Europe is anticipated to be the second-largest market on account of well-established automotive, aerospace & defense, marine, and wind energy industries. Moreover, key manufacturers of the automotive and aerospace industries in this region are focusing on product improvements and the development of new hybrid composites.

Rapidly growing aerospace and defense industries in Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia are likely to generate high product demand, thereby supporting the CSA regional market. Manufacturers operating MRO facilities, such as GE, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Goodrich, are based in Brazil. The country also manufactures turboprops, military aircraft, agricultural aircraft, business aircraft, helicopters, and other general aviation aircraft, which is expected to boost the regional market.

Some of the prominent players in the hybrid composites market include:

• Teijin Ltd.

• DSM N.V.

• Hexcel Corp.

• Exel Composites

• Solvay S.A.

Market Segmentation

Fiber Type Outlook

• • Carbon/Glass

  • Aramid/Carbon

  • HMPP

  • UHMWPE

  • Others

Resin Type Outlook

• • Thermoset

  • Thermoplastic

End-Use Outlook

• • Automotive & Transportation

  • Aerospace & Defense

  • Wind Energy

  • Marine

  • Sporting Goods

  • Others

Regional Outlook

• • North America

    • The U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • The U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE