Cost is always the most sensitive nerve in the carbon fiber industry.
At present, a common phenomenon in the carbon fiber industry chain is that for carbon fiber production enterprises, the production cost is high, and for application enterprises, the application cost is high.
"The low-cost technology system and bulk supply chain system of the entire industrial chain are the keys to large-scale application of carbon fiber in the manufacturing industry." "Professor Yu Muhuo, chief scientist of" 973 "and deputy dean of Donghua University Research Institute, said.
Yu Muhuo, Chief Scientist of "973" and Deputy Dean of Donghua University Research Institute
Lightweight and high strength is the eternal theme of material development. Since the Stone Age, carbon fiber composite materials are currently the materials with the highest specific strength that can be applied on a large scale.
Specific material strength
Professor Yu Muhuo believes that after more than 50 years of development of carbon fiber, the technology has begun to mature, and the time has come for large-scale application. Large-scale application of carbon fiber will revolutionize the manufacturing industry and provide core competitiveness support for China's advanced manufacturing.
However, the large-scale application of carbon fiber in the manufacturing industry needs to cross the cost threshold.
According to Professor Yu Muhuo, new technologies for carbon fiber low-cost manufacturing have emerged, and costs have continued to decrease. For example, the United States has launched a 3.3 ＄ / kg pitch-based carbon fiber research and development program, and Japan has developed a fully aromatic cyclization of PAN spinning solution. Donghua University is also continuously researching new low-cost technologies such as PAN melt spinning, partial aromatic cyclization of PAN dope, rapid oxidation and equipment development, and microwave-assisted oxidative carbonization.
"The low-cost application technology system is the key to large-scale application in manufacturing." Professor Yu Muhuo mentioned more than once.
The rise of carbon fiber in the field of wind power blades is a good proof. Due to the establishment of a low-cost carbon fiber application technology system, wind power blades became the application field with the largest demand for carbon fiber in 2017, with a demand of about 19,800 tons, accounting for 23%; the demand in 2018 increased to 27,000 tons, Than about 30%.
Yu Muhuo pointed out that in 2018, wind power began to blowout, and it is expected that applications in the construction and automotive fields will start.
At present, there are many applications of carbon fiber in mass production models, such as BMW i3 carbon fiber body, BMW 7 series carbon fiber reinforced B pillar, Audi A8 carbon fiber rear panel and the first domestic pure electric sports car using large-scale new carbon fiber composites. Wait.
Finally, Yu Muhuo emphasized that the key technology of carbon fiber in mass production models is cost reduction, and the core technology is cost-first modular structure design, verification and evaluation. The cost reduction of the entire industrial chain depends on whether it can be automated and mass produced .