Yutaka Kagawa

Professor Yutaka Kagawa received his B.S., M.S., and Doctor of Engineering degrees from the School of Science and Engineering at Waseda University. He began his career at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and subsequently joined the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo. He was appointed Associate Professor in 1989 and promoted to Professor in 1998. He later held a professorship in the Graduate School of Engineering, concurrently serving at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS). From 2008 to 2015, he served as Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo, before returning to the Graduate School of Engineering until 2017. He has been an Invited Researcher at NIMS since 2010 and was subsequently conferred the title of Professor Emeritus at The University of Tokyo.
In 2017, Professor Kagawa joined Tokyo University of Technology as Professor and Director of the Center for Ceramics Matrix Composite (CCMC). He later served as Vice President and has held the position of President since 2023, while continuing to contribute as a Research Advisor at IIS. His research spans structural materials science, with particular emphasis on ceramic matrix composites, thermal and environmental barrier coatings, and interfacial mechanics.
His work integrates fundamental materials science with translational research and industrial applications, supporting the development and implementation of advanced ceramic composite technologies. He remains active in promoting research and education through national outreach and specialized training initiatives.

Advances in Research and Development of Ceramic Matrix Composites: Current Japanese Scenario

This presentation provides an overview of recent advancements in the research and development of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) and Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs), with a particular focus on progress achieved in Japan. The discussion will address CMC systems for aircraft engines- such as SiC/SiC and oxide–oxide (Ox/Ox) composites- as well as SiC/SiC composites designed for nuclear applications. Significant developments include the emergence of next generation SiC fibers and thermally robust Ox/Ox composites produced by Japanese manufacturers, which are approaching commercialization.
In the area of manufacturing technologies, major domestic heavy industry companies have adopted distinct strategies to produce high performance CMCs optimized for specific application environments. The presentation will also highlight key achievements from the Center for Ceramic Matrix Composites (CCMC) at Tokyo University of Technology.
Additionally, the talk will introduce innovative experimental methodologies developed at the CCMC for reliability assessment, including advanced X ray based techniques, and will present new insights derived from their application. The presentation will conclude with an outlook on the future trajectory of CMC and EBC technologies, identifying technical challenges, emerging opportunities, and directions for further practical implementation.