Composite materials refer to materials with new properties on the macro (micro) level by physical or chemical methods from two or more materials with different properties. Various materials complement each other in performance to produce synergistic effects, so that the comprehensive performance of the composite material is superior to the original composition material to meet various requirements. The upstream of the composite products industry is mainly glass fiber, resin and other industries, and the downstream is mainly wind power, automotive, construction machinery, yacht and other industries. At present, the global composite materials market value and output have steadily increased in recent years.
Production capacity of composite materials industry continues to increase
Stimulated by the demand for composite materials in the Asia-Pacific region, the global capacity plan for composite materials has been accelerated, and the production capacity of composite materials has continued to increase, which has promoted the continuous increase of industry output. The global composite material output value in 2017 was approximately USD 86.7 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.73%.
In terms of regions, in 2017, the composite material output value in North America accounted for 30% of the global output value; mainland China accounted for 25%; Europe accounted for 20%. North American composite products are mainly used in aerospace, transportation and other fields, with high added value and large market size. Relatively speaking, although the output of composite materials in mainland China is high, the output value is low and the application field is low-end. In the future, Development requires adjustment of the industrial structure.
Global demand for composites
In recent years, under the influence of the global economic downturn and other major environmental impacts, the global composites market structure is gradually changing. The developed countries and regions such as the United States, Japan, and Europe are relatively saturated and the growth rate is relatively slow. Asia-Pacific The Asia-Pacific region has a large market demand and rapid growth due to long-term per capita consumption of composite materials. As a result, the composite material industry has steadily grown. The data shows that the global composite materials market reached approximately USD 30.4 billion in 2017, and the composite material end product market size reached approximately USD 86.4 billion, of which the high-performance composite material end product market size was approximately USD 25 billion.
Global composite material demand structure
From a global perspective, the current global composite materials are mainly glass fiber composites and carbon fiber composites, which together account for more than 90% of the total composite market size. Therefore, the following structure is mainly from the downstream demand of glass fiber composite materials and carbon fiber composite materials.
1. Demand structure of glass fiber composite materials
Glass fiber has excellent properties such as light weight, high strength, high and low temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, heat insulation, flame retardant, sound absorption, and electrical insulation, and a certain degree of designability. , Environmental protection, and defense and military industries.
In the global fiberglass consumer market, the main application fields of glass fiber are concentrated in the fields of construction, transportation, industrial applications, electronics and new energy, accounting for 32%, 28%, 21%, 11%, and 8%, respectively. .
2. Demand structure of carbon fiber composite materials
At present, the aerospace field is one of the main application fields of carbon fiber, which is mainly due to the properties of carbon fiber with light weight and high strength. Compared with steel or aluminum, carbon fiber can reduce weight by 20% to 40%. In the aerospace field, it is mainly used for structural materials of aircraft (about 30% of the weight of the aircraft). Reduced weight by 6% to 12%, significantly reducing aircraft fuel costs. In the field of aerospace, carbon fiber was first used in the manufacture of satellite antennas and satellite supports. At the same time, because of its heat resistance and fatigue resistance, carbon fiber has also been widely used in solid rocket engine housings and nozzles.
In addition to the aerospace field, carbon fiber composite materials are also widely used in sports products, wind power industry, automobile manufacturing, ships, electronics and electrical fields. Judging from the proportion of demand, the scale of demand in the aerospace, sports goods, wind power industry, and automobile manufacturing sectors currently accounts for 48%, 13%, 12%, and 8%, respectively. Other applications accounted for 5% and below.
In summary, at present, the supply and demand of the global composites industry is basically balanced. In terms of regions, the composite material industry in North America has the highest output value and high-end industrial structure, while the mainland China has a higher output value but a lower-end industrial structure. From the perspective of application fields, glass fiber composite materials are widely used in construction, transportation, and industrial applications, while carbon fiber composite materials are widely used in aerospace, sports and leisure, and wind power blades.