Silicon Nitride Market Size, Share, Industry & Growth | 2031

Report Description

The global silicon nitride market size was USD 112.49 Mn in 2022 and is likely to reach USD 203.29 Mn by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 7.4% during 2023–2031. The market growth is attributed to the rising structural, orthopedic, and electronics applications of silicon nitride in various industries due to its robust thermal resistance and reliable mechanical properties.

Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄) is a material made from the chemical composition of silicon and nitrogen elements. It is highly resistant to high-degree temperatures due to its exceptional strength and creep resistance characteristics. The high resistance against thermal shocks makes silicon nitride a reliable structural ceramic.

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The factors including size, shape, amount, and chemical composition are vital in guiding the behavior of silicon nitride. The excellent mechanical properties such as robustness and fracture toughness make silicon nitride ideal to use as a raw material in various products. The silicon nitride ceramic substrates have high thermal conductivity and resistance against humidity, owing to which they are vastly used in electrical insulation.

• On May 4, 2023, Ceram’Tec launched Rubalit ZTA, a high-performance ceramic substrate with excellent electrical insulation, good thermal conductivity, very high flexural strength, and top values for dielectric strength. Ceram’Tec is expanding its substrate portfolio to include solutions specifically tailored for use in highly electrified industries and e-mobility with Rubalit ZTA.

The toughness of these materials brings them into the class of materials that can be compared with steel. In terms of comprehensive fracture toughness, silicon nitride exhibits relatively high-value performance which is (~4000 MPa). This is more than any other metallic material used for implant purposes. Silicon nitride also possesses antibacterial or osteogenic dualism, making them highly favorable bioceramics for medical implants.

Silicon Nitride can be manufactured using several methods, including hot pressing, reaction bonding, pressureless sintering, hot-isostatic pressing, and gas-pressure sintering techniques. In-depth studies and research are carried out, to study silicon nitride as a supportive bearing, which can enhance the endurance and longevity of prosthetic hips and knee joints.

The market report finds that the COVID-19 pandemic hampered the silicon nitride industry growth. As various governments around the world implemented lockdown measures to minimize the spread of the virus, several industries' operations got largely affected. The manufacturing, raw material supply, and imports & exports of silicon nitride were either slowed down or halted completely. In addition, due to the slowdown in industrial production activities, the demand for silicon nitride declined during the peak of the pandemic.

As the key industries that utilize silicon nitride in their products reported a decline in sales, owing to which the demand for silicon nitride from these industries weakened significantly. However, the market has started showing positive recovery signs, post the wide vaccination, ease of lockdowns, and resumption of manufacturing in the industries.

Silicon Nitride Market Dynamics

The research report presents a complete market overview by providing detailed information about the current market trends, existing drivers, growth opportunities and potentials, and emerging challenges. The global silicon nitride market report has up-to-date insights about market scenarios that can shape the overall market performance and output during the forecast period, 2023 to 2031.

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Key Trends

Rising Use as an Antireflection Coating Material in Solar Cell Panels

The rising use of silicon nitride as an antireflection coating (ARC) in solar cell panels is one of the key trends in the market. Solar energy is one of the highly utilized renewable energy sources, owing to this, demand for solar panels is increasing significantly. Nearly all screen-printed solar panels have silicon nitride as an ARC solution.

Silicon nitride is beneficial in minimizing the surface reflection of photovoltaic materials. A silicon nitride layer is applied to the solar cell as an antireflection coating. The layer also reduces recombination in the bulk of silicon and at the silicon-dielectric interface. In the process, silicon nitride is applied by using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique.

Major Drivers 

Increasing Application in Automobiles and Space Industry

The increasing application of silicon nitride in the automotive and space industry is likely to drive the silicon nitride market in the coming years. The material is highly used in the production of automotive engine components and turbochargers. The glow plugs manufactured using silicon nitride enable the quick start of diesel engines. Additionally, it helps in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and reduces the noise made by engines.

The thermal resistance and low-weight properties of silicon nitride make it a fitting solution for the engines of the space shuttle. The silicon nitride material can withstand thermal shock and gradients produced by oxygen and hydrogen engines. These thermal resistance characteristics are significantly reliable for carrying out space shuttle programs.

Expanding Use as a Biomedical Material

The expanding use of silicon nitride as a biomedical material for implants is anticipated to be another major driver for the global market. Silicon nitride is a ceramic material with unique and robust properties.

It is beneficial for improving the longevity of orthopedic, spinal, scaffolds, bone grafts, and dental implants. The material is also antibacterial in nature, which is beneficial for maintaining the health of implants. The research and development are carried out to use silicon nitride as an advanced ceramic material in various contemporary and future medical industry applications.

Existing Restraints  

Availability of Alternative Materials

The availability of alternative materials instead of silicon nitride can be one of the major hindering factors for the silicon nitride market growth. As the manufacturing of silicon nitrides involves complicated processes and higher costs, the availability of cheaper alternatives can decline its demand from the key industries. Materials such as silicon carbide, alumina, gallium nitride, and others are being explored for increasing their application in industrial productions.

Emerging Opportunities 

Advancement of Applications in End-Use Industries

The advancement of silicon nitride applications in different end-user industries such as medicine, automobiles, electronics, and semiconductors is projected to create favorable opportunities for market growth during the forecast period. For instance, an electric vehicle requires to have safe and reliable electronic devices.

Resistance to heat is a key need in these devices, which is expected to create significant demand for silicon nitride from the EV industry. Additionally, research and exploration are carried out to enhance medical implant quality and durability using silicon nitride. The demand for high-quality and robust ceramic implants is anticipated to create growth opportunities for the global market.

Scope of Silicon Nitride Market Report

The market report includes an assessment of the market trends, market segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.

Silicon Nitride Market Segment Insights

Based on product type, the global silicon nitride market is divided into reaction bonded silicon nitride, sintered silicon nitride, gas pressure sintered silicon nitride, hot pressed silicon nitride, and others. The sintered silicon nitride segment is projected to hold the highest share of the global market during the projection period. The sintered silicon nitride (SSN) exhibits superior thermal shock resistance, fracture resistance, creep resistance, and excellent wear resistance characteristics compared to other types. These superior mechanical properties are expected to support its demand growth consistently throughout the projection period.

The reaction bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) segment is expected to grow rapidly in the global market during the projection period. The demand for high electrical resistance and resistance against wetting by molten metals are some of the factors fueling the segment's growth. The gas pressure sintered silicon nitride (GPSN) segment is anticipated to hold a key share of the market in the coming years. The processing performance of GPSN is good. These materials can be directly processed into the required shape, which helps in reducing production and processing costs.

Hot pressed silicon nitride segment is anticipated to account for a considerable market share during the forecast period. Hot pressed silicon nitride is the solid form produced in graphite which dies at temperatures in excess of 1650°C. Hot pressing of silicon nitride generates a material of virtually zero porosity. Hot-pressing silicon nitride helps one to achieve approximately zero porosity. This results in extraordinary mechanical properties including corrosion resistance in high-temperature applications.         

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On the basis of grade, the global market is segregated into standard grade and high purity grade. The high purity grade segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The need for improved thermodynamical properties in final products is rising in various end-user industries such as automobiles, aerospace, ball bearings, and industrial valves among others. The better thermomechanical properties aid in enhancing production and product quality, which is expected to boost the segment of high purity grade silicon nitride in the global market.

The standard grade silicon nitride segment is anticipated to account for a considerable market share in the coming years. The demand for budget-friendly silicon nitride materials is likely to aid the growth of the segment.

Based on application, the global silicon nitride market is divided into engine components, metal working tools, electronic circuit manufacturing, bearings & rollers, ceramic cutting materials, tubes & pipes, turbochargers, led devices, seals & rings, and others. The bearings & rollers segment held a large share of the market in 2021 and is expected to expand significantly during the projected period.

The segment growth is owing to the highly reliable performance of bearings and rollers made with silicon nitride in even conditions. The application of silicon nitride in the making of bearings and rollers makes them excellent against thermal shocks. This material is highly used in different ceramic bearings and hybrid ceramic bearings which are efficient in joining steel races with ceramic balls.

The turbochargers segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period. The sintered silicon nitride is highly suitable for making structural materials of turbocharger rotor, as it has lighter weight and excellent mechanical strength against high temperatures. The turbochargers made with silicon nitride materials are lighter in weight and provide high performance.

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On the basis of end-user, the global market is segregated into automotive, photovoltaic, electronics & semiconductors, aviation, aerospace, medical, and others. The automotive segment is projected to register a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. Silicon nitride is beneficial for automotive components owing to excellent mechanical properties and high withstanding against high temperatures.

The medical segment is anticipated to account for rapid growth in silicon nitride market share in the coming years. The implants that have silicon nitride material possess superior strength and are antibacterial. Moreover, further exploration is being carried out in the medical industry to enhance the durability of medical implants with the utilization of silicon nitride materials.

In terms of region, the global silicon nitride market is classified as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The growth of the silicon nitride market share in the region is majorly owing to factors such as rising industrialization and the presence of major silicon nitride manufacturers.

The larger population of emerging economies of the region China and India, is boosting the demand for various products from end-user industries. The rising use of these materials in medical and automotive industry products is fueling the market in the Asia Pacific.

The silicon nitride market in North America is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period. The expanding use of silicon nitride in the automotive industry in North America as well as the medical implants industry is projected to support the market growth in the region.

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