- The market for EV battery fire protection materials is forecast to grow by around 13% annually through 2037.
- Tighter regulations, including China’s GB 38031-2025, are driving greater focus on thermal runaway containment.
- Aerogels, mica, foams and coatings are among the materials being used to prevent or delay fire propagation within battery packs.
The research forecasts annual market growth of around 13% over the next decade, as manufacturers increasingly use passive fire protection materials alongside active battery management, cooling and thermal management systems.
Thermal runaway can be triggered by factors including overcharging, overheating, internal short circuits and mechanical damage. While measures such as battery management systems and active cooling can reduce the risk, IDTechEx notes that no single approach can eliminate it entirely.
Fire protection materials can instead help delay or prevent thermal runaway propagating between cells, modules and ultimately beyond the battery pack.
Regulatory developments are expected to be an important driver of demand. China has introduced increasingly stringent requirements through GB 38031-2025, which came into effect in July 2026. The standard includes requirements designed to prevent fire or explosion under specified test conditions for up to two hours, representing a significant tightening of requirements around battery safety.
IDTechEx says the development could also influence manufacturers elsewhere, with several automotive OEMs reportedly targeting longer thermal runaway escape times ahead of potential future regulatory changes.
Materials can be incorporated at either cell or pack level. Cell-level protection includes encapsulating foams, aerogels, mica and fire-resistant compression pads, while pack-level approaches include ceramic blankets, aerogels, mica, powder coatings and intumescent coatings.
Aerogels, mica and foam already represented more than US$1.6 billion in combined market revenue in 2025, according to the research. IDTechEx expects some smaller material categories, including intumescent coatings and fire-protection compression pads, to experience stronger growth over the coming decade.
The report highlights the increasing role of passive fire protection as battery designs evolve and regulators place greater emphasis on containing thermal runaway.
