KEY POINTS

  • Tokyo University of Technology and Kureha start joint research on SiC-fiber ceramic matrix composites in August 2026
  • Project evaluates SiC/SiC composites for aircraft engines and other high-temperature structural components
  • Testing covers mechanical properties and durability in high-temperature oxidation environments to support commercialization
Kureha, Tokyo University of Technology Launch SiC/SiC Aircraft Engine Research
The Katayanagi Advanced Research Laboratories at Tokyo University of Technology. Note: Japanese text in the original image from press release has been translated into English by our editorial team.

Tokyo University of Technology said on Aug. 21 that its Ceramic Matrix Composites Center had signed a joint research agreement with Kureha Corp. on ceramic matrix composites using silicon carbide, or SiC, fiber developed by the Japanese chemicals maker, with research starting in August 2026.

The project will produce SiC/SiC composite materials using Kureha's SiC fiber and evaluate their use in high-temperature structural components such as aircraft engines. Testing will cover mechanical properties and durability in high-temperature oxidation environments to help strengthen Kureha's technological base for commercialization.

Ceramic matrix composites, or CMCs, are advanced materials that are lighter than metals while offering high heat resistance and strength. Their use has been advancing in high-temperature parts for aircraft engines and power-generation gas turbines. SiC/SiC composites, which use SiC fiber as a reinforcing material, have drawn attention for next-generation aircraft engines, where higher efficiency can contribute to lower carbon dioxide emissions.

The collaboration will also be used to explore applications in markets that require high-temperature structural materials, according to the release. Kureha is developing SiC fiber as a new business and aims to combine higher quality with price competitiveness through its proprietary manufacturing process.

Tokyo University of Technology's CMC Center was established in 2017 as what the university describes as the world's first research and development base dedicated to CMCs. The center works on manufacturing, evaluation and reliability assessment of the materials and has promoted joint research projects in Japan and overseas across aerospace, space, power generation and automotive applications.

The center has also conducted joint research with U.S. aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney since 2024. In Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has supported industry-academia collaboration in advanced materials and manufacturing technologies.

Originally published on jp.ibtimes.com