Aerospace industry seeks alternatives to China's rare earth mineral monopoly

The aerospace industry is revisiting decades-old material formulas to reduce its reliance on China, which holds a near-monopoly on critical rare earth minerals. Materials such as yttrium, indium phosphide, and tungsten are essential for jet engine coatings, turbine parts, and semiconductor chips.

To mitigate risks from supply disruptions and high costs, researchers are investigating alternatives for thermal barrier coatings used in high-temperature engine components. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) is testing whether zirconium dioxide and other ceramic oxides used in the 1970s and 1980s can be modernized to compete with current rare earth-based materials.

Industry players are already taking action. European manufacturer Oerlikon Metco reported that it is already selling some products without rare earth minerals and is developing new coatings based on zirconium dioxide with magnesium and calcium oxides. American suppliers are also exploring similar alternatives.