Low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) are a mixture of glass and ceramics. These ceramic tapes of different properties are developed using materials having different physical and electrical properties. The low temperature co-fired ceramics market is influenced by trends such as the increasing demand from various industries and the severe impact of the global pandemic on the industry. In 2018, NEO Tech, a leader in supply chain solutions for medical and aerospace & defense industries, developed specific guidelines for LTCC and Aluminum Nitride (AlN) packaging solutions.
Also, LTCC devices are used as UV light sources in biomolecule assay operations, where the target molecule is exposed to these radiations. The use of UV light has been found to be very effective in killing the COVID-19 virus, and thus, this radiation is now used as a disinfectant in public places and transports, such as trains, metro trains, and flights. Therefore, the LTCC is expected to be in high demand, as the transport systems and public places globally require to be disinfected with higher precision, in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the market intelligence by BIS Research, the global low temperature co-fired ceramics market was estimated at $4.01 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a double-digit CAGR during the forecast period 2020-2025. The growth of the market is driven by continuous technological advancements with respect to the miniaturization of electronic devices and increasing demand for light emitting diodes (LEDs). Both the driving factors are expected to have a high impact on the market growth in the long run.
In October 2019, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd announced the ongoing development of RF module solutions for Terragraph. This technology can help in fulfilling the requirement of high-speed internet in sub-urban terrain. The miniaturization of electronics, coupled with the demand for high computational speed, has created difficult operating conditions for the electronic components.
In terms of application, LTCCs are used in consumer electronics, automobile electronics, aerospace and military electronics, and others (telecommunications and mems). The growing adoption has been witnessed primarily in the automobile electronics due to the incorporation of sensors at various parts of the vehicles, such as engines, power transmissions, and hydraulic braking units. These sensors are always exposed to high temperatures and harsh operating conditions, which leads to their performance degradation, when used over a prolonged period of time. Thus, this necessitates the adoption of the LTCC technology for this sector.
Further, the benefits offered by the LTCC have been head turners for the global electronics sector. As a result, existing and new market players have been entering this business and have adopted the technology toward the manufacturing of multilayer circuits. However, the associated high initial costs and involved R&D have been a key challenge for the new entrants.
