Aerospace suppliers seek rare-earth alternatives amid China supply concerns

Despite initial efforts, experts suggest that replacing modern rare-earth-based materials or securing adequate domestic supply in the United States remains years away. This renewed interest in older, non-rare-earth alternatives, some dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, reflects worries that supply constraints and high prices could jeopardize key parts of the jet-engine supply chain.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is leading research into whether materials like zirconium dioxide and other non-rare earth ceramic oxides can match the performance of current rare-earth-enhanced coatings. Rogerio Lima, a senior research officer at the NRC, noted that improved instruments and engineering might allow for enhancements to these older materials.

European thermal coatings producer Oerlikon Metco is already offering some rare-earth-free products and is developing more, including zirconia-based thermal barrier coatings that utilize magnesium and calcium oxides. Some U.S. thermal-coating suppliers are also investigating non-rare-earth options for less critical components, and recycling surplus coating materials is being considered as a way to ease supply constraints.

However, these efforts are seen as only partially alleviating the issue. Geoffrey Gertz, a former official on the White House National Security Council, stated that breaking dependency on China for rare earths will take years, not months, implying China will retain significant leverage in trade negotiations with the United States.