Medical Carbon Composites Market to Witness Robust Growth by 2026

The Medical Carbon Composites Market is segmented by Application Type (Operating & Diagnostic Tables, Bone Implants, Prosthetics & Orthotics, and Surgical Seals), Process Type (Prepreg Layup and Others), End-User Type (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World).

What is a medical carbon composite?

In technology-intensive industries, such as space and aeronautical engineering, the performance-to-weight ratio plays a vital role; thus, the high cost associated with testing the design and manufacturing process are acceptable even if the gain may appear to be small. However, in mass production and less critical applications such as automotive parts, sporting goods, and boats, a marginal improvement in performance is usually not very important. Thus, it can be said that the cost spent on optimizing the product is modest, while efforts are spent on rationalizing the manufacturing. The first experiment with carbon fiber in the medical industry was made in the mid-1960s. However, the high cost associated with the material and manufacturing process restricted its commercial usage till the 21st century. After years of research and development, this innovative material is able to secure a small space in the medical devices industry. With advancements in manufacturing processes and materials’ cost optimization, currently, carbon composites are preferably used in applications such as operating tables, diagnostic tabletops, bone implants, prosthetics, orthotics, and surgical seals. Carbon composites play a crucial role in medical devices as the material provides radiolucency, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and corrosion resistance.

Application Type

The medical carbon composites market is segmented as operating & diagnostic tables, bone implants, prosthetics & orthotics, and surgical seals. The operating & diagnostic tables segment is expected to remain the dominant one during the forecast period as carbon composite tabletop offers a 360-degree radiolucency. The market is witnessing an increased number of new product launches. For instance, in 2020, Hillrom launched PST 500 and PST 300 precision surgical tables that offer a 360-degree radiolucency coupled with the capability of handling general surgery, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. The prosthetics & orthotics segment is estimated to be the second-largest application by 2026, driven by an increasing acceptance in lower limb prosthetics and orthotics.

Process Type

The market is segmented as prepreg layup and other processes. Prepreg layup is likely to remain the dominant process in the market during the forecast period. Prepreg is the preferred choice for manufacturing operating tables and diagnostic tabletops. Other processes predominantly include wet lamination, another highly preferred process for the fabrication of lower limb prosthetics and orthotics.

Market Drivers

Government initiatives, such as customs duty exemption on medical devices, growth in regulatory approvals of medical devices, upcoming Tokyo Paralympics 2021, and product innovations, are likely to act as the major growth drivers of the market.

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