# Aerospace suppliers test rare-earth-free turbine coatings *The National Research Council of Canada and Oerlikon Metco are reviving 1970s non-rare-earth ceramic formulas as Chinese supply restrictions threaten high-temperature aerospace components.* **Published:** September 22, 2026 **By:** Mina Okoro **Section:** Energy & Critical Minerals — Cross-border **Format:** Breaking **Confidence:** medium **Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/energy-minerals/aerospace-suppliers-test-rare-earth-free-turbine-coatings-349 **Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/) --- ## What to know - NRC Canada and Oerlikon Metco began testing non-rare-earth jet engine coatings on Sept. 21, 2026 - Western engine makers seek to replace yttrium where China controls over 90% of refining capacity - Full civil aviation airworthiness certification remains several years away, with furnace trials set for 2027 ![A researcher inspects a ceramic-coated metal sample inside a National Research Council of Canada laboratory. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-09-21-0a5bc4b0ba15.webp) *A researcher inspects a ceramic-coated metal sample inside a National Research Council of Canada laboratory. (AI-generated image)* The National Research Council of Canada and industrial coatings suppliers began testing non-rare-earth ceramic formulations for jet engines on Sept. 21, 2026, aiming to circumvent Chinese critical mineral export controls. The initiative focuses on thermal barrier coatings that shield turbine blades in commercial and military aircraft engines. China controls roughly 70% of global rare-earth extraction and more than 90% of refined processing capacity. Turbine coatings rely heavily on yttrium, a critical element dominated by Chinese refiners. Recent export curbs from Beijing reduced foreign shipments and caused pricing volatility for Western aerospace component fabricators. The National Research Council of Canada, the federal research agency in Ottawa, is collaborating with multiple industrial partners. The consortium is re-evaluating zirconium dioxide mixed with magnesium and calcium oxides. Engineers had phased out those oxide chemistries during the 1970s and 1980s in favor of yttria-stabilized zirconia. Modern analytical tools and advanced thermal spraying may allow older formulations to meet current performance benchmarks, the council said. Thermal barrier coatings enable turbine sections to operate at combustion gas temperatures exceeding 1,300 degrees Celsius. Without ceramic thermal insulation, underlying nickel-base superalloys soften, warp and melt during flight operations. Yttria-stabilized zirconia has remained the global aviation standard for four decades. A typical coating layer contains 7% to 8% yttrium oxide by weight to prevent cracking during severe thermal cycles. Replacing yttrium requires stabilizing the crystal structure of zirconia with alternative materials. Calcia and magnesia offer non-rare-earth alternatives, but earlier iterations suffered from microstructural degradation under continuous heat cycles. Swiss industrial group Oerlikon said its surface-solutions subsidiary, Oerlikon Metco, currently sells some non-rare-earth powders. The business is actively developing additional magnesia- and calcia-stabilized zirconia formulations for aerospace clients, the company said. Major jet engine manufacturers face concentrated exposure to supply chokepoints in the smelting and refining chain. The four principal Western turbine makers—GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Safran—all depend on yttria-stabilized coatings. The National Research Council of Canada and Oerlikon Metco did not publish project budgets or the full roster of participating commercial engine manufacturers. Both organizations confirmed laboratory trials remain active across North American and European test cells. Airworthiness authorities enforce rigorous testing standards before certifying new materials in civil aviation. Regulators require thousands of thermal shock cycles and flight-hour test runs before approving changes to combustion liners or high-pressure turbine components. Aerospace coatings manufacturers remain several years away from deploying certified non-rare-earth topcoats across commercial production lines. Testing data from the current Canadian laboratory evaluations will inform next-stage furnace qualification trials scheduled for 2027. ## Impact map | Event | Korea | China | Japan | Global impact | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Non-rare-earth turbine coating trials | Hanwha Aerospace monitors qualification cycles for licensed military turbine components | Ministry of Commerce retains export licensing leverage over yttrium oxides and salts | IHI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries assess qualification risk for commercial engine subassemblies | GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney face multi-year certification hurdles to replace Chinese mineral inputs | ## In this story - **Companies:** Oerlikon Metco - **Tickers:** OERL.SW - **Exposed:** GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Safran - **Policy:** Export Controls, Economic Security - **Impact:** Supply Chain, Compliance, Cost Structure ## Primary sources 1. euronext.com 2. canada.ca 3. tradersunion.com 4. oerlikon.com 5. rareearthexchanges.com --- Cite as: East Asia Brief, "Aerospace suppliers test rare-earth-free turbine coatings," September 22, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/energy-minerals/aerospace-suppliers-test-rare-earth-free-turbine-coatings-349