Carbon Fiber 3D Printing Material Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends By Colour (Neutral, Black, White, Other), By Diameter (1.75mm, 2.85mm, 3mm), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The Carbon Fiber 3D Printing Material market was valued at US$48.073 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 43.44% over the forecast period to reach a total market size of US$600.702 million by 2027.

A carbon fibre filament is a material that has tiny fibres infused into its base material to improve its properties. There are a number of filaments available with carbon fibre fill, including PLA, PETG, Nylon, ABS, and Polycarbonate.  fibres like this increase the strength and stiffness of the filament and are extremely strong. Design elements that have poor performance or a high lifecycle cost can be replaced with carbon fibres. Carbon fibre is used to make items such as aeroplane wings, bike frames, car components, and even propellers. Carbon fiber-reinforced 3D printing materials have enhanced performance in many applications as 3D printing technologies have advanced. The market keeps on seeing the introduction of new products, such as in 2021, when Stratasys unveiled ABS-CF10, a product that combines carbon fiber filament's mechanical performance with ease of use, soluble support, and surface finish of traditional ABS 3D printing material. This creates a thermoplastic engineering material that is strong and rigid enough for factory floor tooling. Such factors will drive the market growth for carbon fibre 3D printing in the forecast period.

Special mechanical properties and precise performance are often needed in industrial environments. Thanks to carbon fiber 3D printing, additive manufacturing can now benefit from engineering-grade materials' strength and stiffness. With its high strength and the numerous advantages of additive manufacturing, carbon fibre 3D printing is ideal for functional and innovative products requiring high strength and stiffness, fine surface finishes for thermal and wear resistance, and heat resistance. As an example, MakerBot announced the launch in May 2020 of two Method Carbon Fibre platforms, which, according to MakerBot, aim to make composite 3D printing ‘more available to more people than ever.’

Growth Factors:

• Application in a variety of industries

With 3D printing becoming more prevalent in end-use production, carbon fibre filament is being used more and more to manufacture parts and tools. Carbon Fibre 3D printer filament is designed for creating molds, jigs, fixtures, and tooling, for high-performance cars, aerospace equipment, and professional cycling equipment, carbon fiber 3D printer filament is an ideal material for producing high-strength components. The properties of continuous carbon fibres, such as strength and rigidity, make them ideal for 3D printing. Carbon fiber is used in exterior components of automobiles such as bumpers, bonnets, and front ends by high-end automobile manufacturers such as Bentley and BMW. Market growth is expected to continue to be driven in large part by advancements in carbon fibre technologies. Carbon fibre is frequently used in the production of medical products for a variety of applications including prostheses, surgeries, x-ray equipment, implants, tendon/ligament repair, and other medical applications.  Furthermore, new products are released regularly to maintain competitiveness. In March 2020, Ricoh 3D announced a partnership with a composite 3D printing company, Impossible Objects, aimed at launching a new powder-based 3D composite material range. These carbon fibre materials are compatible with Impossible Objects' 3D printing technology and can be used for both functional prototyping and small batch production. Braskem, a polyolefin and biopolymer producer in the Americas, announced the expansion of its partnership with Vartega Inc. which recycles advanced materials, including carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), into a recycling program for 3D printing filaments. Further, In August 2021, FFF 3D printing solutions company Raise3D, which specializes in AM systems for large enterprises and SMEs, will introduce its latest desktop 3D printing product, designed around its award-winning E2 multipurpose printer. This printer has been optimized to print with carbon fibre and was specifically engineered for fibre-reinforced materials. As announced in February 2021, Stratasys will make carbon fiber readily available to more end-users through the FDM ABS-CF10 material for the F123 Series printers. As a result of these developments, the market is expected to grow in the forecast period.

Restrain

• It is both costly and brittle.

Carbon fibre has been renowned for its complex manufacturing processes, which make it more expensive and thus considered a luxury, a factor that contributes to its presence in high-end products but not in mass markets. Carbon fibre can also shatter when hit with a high-impact force. As a result, carbon fibre will not be suitable for applications that involve such forces. In turn, this could hinder the growth of the market for carbon fiber 3D printing materials.

COVID-19 insight

Throughout the world, disruptions in growth, development, and functionality have been caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Due to global lockdowns, travel restrictions, and bans, most industries have experienced adverse supply chain effects. The carbon fiber market has declined due to the changing business environment and the geopolitical situation. Due to reduced production capacity and lower demand from major industries, carbon fibre 3D printing material has been less in demand.  While the pandemic was underway, 3D printing significantly contributed to the management of the shortage of medical equipment. Due to COVID-19, medical equipment demand grew, alongside the adoption of carbon fiber 3D printing material.

Market Segmentation

The Carbon Fibre 3D printing material Market has been segmented by colour, thickness, and geography.

• By Colour
  • Neutral
  • Black
  • White
  • Other
• By Diameter
  • 1.75mm
  • 2.85mm
  • 3mm
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • United Kingdom
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Others