Trends in the demand for glass fiber in the composite industry

The FRP/composite industry in China started in 1958 and has experienced more than 50 years of development, especially since the reform and opening up, through the exchange and cooperation of domestic and foreign FRP/composite counterparts, and the introduction, digestion and absorption of equipment and technology, and China's FRP/ With the joint efforts of the composite material industry, China's FRP/composite raw and auxiliary materials production capacity, technical level, equipment manufacturing technology and molding process technology have achieved considerable development and technological progress, and a relatively complete R&D system and industrialized production system have been formed.

At present, the total production volume of fiberglass/composite materials in China ranks among the top in the world, and FRP/composite materials have been widely used in the fields of construction engineering, petrochemicals, transportation, energy industry, machinery manufacturing, boats, sports equipment, aerospace, etc. It has made important contributions to the national economy and national defense construction.

First, the basic situation of the glass fiber industry

According to statistics of the Fiberglass Industry Association, China's glass fiber output reached 2.05 million tons in 2009, a decrease of 2.84% over the same period of last year. The pool furnace method produced 1.65 million tons, a decrease of 5.174% over the same period of last year. In 2009, China's glass fiber exports amounted to 976,600 tons, a decrease of 19.15% over the same period of last year. In 2009, the import volume of glass fiber in China was 191,400 tons, which was 8.89% lower than the same period of last year. In 2009, the consumption of glass fiber in China was 1,264,800 tons.

Second, the basic situation of FRP / composite materials industry

According to statistics from the Composite Materials Industry Association, in 2009, the output of China's thermoset FRP composite materials reached 1.97 million tons, thermoplastic composite materials reached 730,000 tons, glass fiber-based clad laminates reached 530,000 tons, and the total amount of composite materials reached 3.23 million tons, compared with the previous year. About 11.4% growth.

Third, in 2009 China's glass fiber / composite fiberglass usage classification

The composite material is the largest application area of ​​glass fiber, accounting for 55-60% of the total amount of glass fiber, including 50% of non-woven rovings, 30% of chopped strands, 10% of chopped strand mats, 5% of woven grids, and others. 5%. The glass fiber used for transportation accounted for 25% of the total amount of glass fiber, while the automobile industry accounted for 80% of this total; the amount of fiberglass for electronic/electrical use accounted for 20% of the total amount of glass fiber, accounting for the proportion of glass fiber cloth. 55% of the printed circuit boards are reinforced in the world; in addition, the glass fiber consumption of the construction market accounts for 35% of the total amount of glass fibers.

Fourth, domestic and foreign trade in glass fiber

1. From January to March 2010, China's cumulative import volume of fiberglass and products was 57,300 tons, an increase of 74.34% year-on-year, and the amount of imported goods was 194 million US dollars, an increase of 58.71% year-on-year. Affected by increasing market demand in the automotive, electronics, chemical, and wind industries, imports of glass fiber woven fabrics (electronic cloths), glass fiber rovings, roving looms, and chopped glass fibers have increased. The market is optimistic.

2. The number of exports increased and the foreign trade market gradually emerged from a depressed state

From January to March 2010, the total number of glass fiber products and products exported in China was 283,300 tons, an increase of 55.75% over the same period of last year. Since the fourth quarter of 2008, China's glass fiber exports have been declining all the way, and negative growth occurred in 2009. Until January 2010, China's export growth rate of glass fiber and its products was positive. The monthly export volume and export value show an increasing trend, and the foreign trade market is gradually out of the downturn.

V. Asia has become the fastest growing region in the global composite materials industry

1. Accelerating growth of Asian composite materials industry

According to JEC's data report, the world's composite materials will grow at an average annual growth rate of 6%, while Asia will grow at a double-digit rate each year. Asia's proportion of composite materials in the world will increase from the current 36% to 46% in 2015.

2. The proportion of thermoplastic composites continues to grow

Compared with thermoset composites, thermoplastic composites are one of the development directions of FRP/composite materials because thermoplastic composites have the characteristics of good impact toughness, physical production, no pollution, and easy recycling. At present, the non-structural products, especially the composite materials for transportation vehicles, have become the focus of popularization and application of thermal plastic composite materials.

The proportion of thermoplastic composite materials in the composite materials developed countries such as Europe and the United States is far higher than that of China, and the global composite materials industry regards them as composite products that should be vigorously developed.

It is predicted that in the next 10 to 15 years, the application ratio of thermosetting composites and thermoplastic composites will tend to be equal. At present, thermoplastic composites in developed countries account for more than 30% of the total polymer composites used, compared with up to 50% in the United States. Therefore, the application development of thermoplastic composites should be one of the focuses of our attention.