R&D

Kureha launches joint research on ceramic matrix composites with Tokyo University of Technology

Kureha is developing SiC fibers as a new business and is targeting both high quality and cost competitiveness through its proprietary manufacturing process

Kureha Corporation has launched a joint research program with Tokyo University of Technology to develop advanced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) using silicon carbide (SiC) fibers being developed by the company.

The collaboration began on August 1, 2026, under a newly signed joint research agreement between Kureha and Tokyo University of Technology.

CMCs are high-performance materials that combine heat resistance, light weight and high mechanical strength, making them promising for demanding applications including aircraft engines and gas turbines for power generation. SiC/SiC composites reinforced with SiC fibers are drawing particular attention for their potential to improve the efficiency of next-generation aircraft engines and help reduce CO₂ emissions.

Kureha is developing SiC fibers as a new business and is targeting both high quality and cost competitiveness through its proprietary manufacturing process.

The research will be conducted with the CMC Center at the Katayanagi Advanced Research Institute of Tokyo University of Technology. Established as the world's first research and development center dedicated to CMCs, the center specializes in the fabrication, characterization and reliability assessment of these high-temperature structural materials.

The center supports research spanning aerospace, power generation and automotive applications and serves as a hub for industry-academia-government collaboration in the field.

Under the new program, researchers will fabricate and evaluate SiC/SiC composites reinforced with Kureha's SiC fibers, focusing on their potential use in high-temperature structural components such as aircraft engines.

The team will assess key performance factors, including mechanical properties and durability in high-temperature oxidative environments. Kureha said the results will help strengthen the technological foundation needed to commercialize its SiC fibers while opening potential pathways into markets requiring high-temperature structural materials.

The initiative also fits into Kureha's broader strategy of creating and developing new businesses through open innovation. The company said it will continue working with universities, research institutes and industry partners to advance advanced-material technologies aimed at addressing societal challenges.