Development Trend Of China's Carbon Fiber Industry

The Ministry of industry and Commerce recently conveyed the issue of "speeding up the development of the printing industry". carbon fibre Industry development action plan (hereinafter referred to as "plan") notice.

The plan is formulated according to the decision of the State Council on accelerating the cultivation and development of strategic emerging industries, the 12th Five-Year national strategic emerging industries development plan and the new material industry "12th Five-Year" development plan.

Compared with the guiding opinions on accelerating the continuous and healthy development of carbon fiber industry in March (Draft), the content is closer to the actual development of the industry and puts forward higher development goals.

The plan was introduced this year to help the industry clear the way and path in the critical period of transformation and upgrading. This is put forward after summarizing the experience and course of development. It is more instructive and operable. Moreover, after continuous investment, China's carbon fiber enterprises finally realized profits, which is also the turning point of the development of the industry. The introduction of the plan is also an encouragement for the development of the industry.

However, in view of the international market, the competition of carbon fiber industry has also entered the stage of incandescence. There is still much to do in China's carbon fiber industry. The plan has condensed the painstaking efforts and dreams of the industry.

　　 "Four Combinations" to improve the industrial system

The plan proposes that China's development of carbon fiber should combine technological innovation with upgrading the level of industrialization.

The principle of combining industrial development with downstream applications, highlighting key and comprehensive promotion, and adhering to the combination of market orientation and policy guidance. According to the insiders, the "Four Combinations" are very close to the actual development of the carbon fiber industry and have guiding significance for the development of the industry.

The combination of scientific and technological innovation and upgrading the industrialization level is to pay more attention to the research and development of key, core and frontier technologies. In recent years, under the guidance of national policies, China's carbon fiber industry has been engaged in many construction enterprises. At the same time, the phenomenon of low-level investment has intensified. Duan Xiaoping, President of China Chemical Fiber Industry Association, pointed out that high performance fiber such as carbon fiber is a technology intensive industry, and technological progress is too fast. The increase of low level and homogeneous production capacity must have room for market demand and technology upgrading. Zhu Bo, a professor at Shandong University, also talked about the mentality of enterprises. He also said that the construction of new high-tech industries such as carbon fiber should not be eager for quick success and instant benefit, and technological innovation should be strengthened. At present, low level and poor quality problems need to be solved by technology upgrading.

At the same time, the combination of scientific and technological innovation and upgrading the industrialization level should accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, break through the bottleneck constraints of industrialization technology, technology and equipment, and make the carbon fiber industry produce core competitiveness. Recently, the "dry jet wet spinning GQ45 high performance carbon fiber engineering key technology and equipment R & D" project has been accepted by the Zhongfu divine eagle carbon fiber limited liability company and other units. This is the first domestic breakthrough in the international advanced dry jet wet spinning carbon fiber manufacturing technology, boosted the industry's confidence.

The combination of industrial development and downstream applications calls for continuous improvement in product quality and batch stability around the needs of major national projects and key projects, actively exploring downstream application markets, extending industrial chains, and achieving the simultaneous development of carbon fiber and downstream products. Zhang Guoliang, chairman of Zhongfu divine eagle Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd., believes that carbon fiber production enterprises should stick to their main position of innovation, and at the same time, we should further carry out the combination of production and research and collaborative innovation. He said that after the breakthrough of carbon fiber dry spray wet process, Zhongfu divine eagle Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd. will strengthen the application technology research of carbon fiber and further extend the industrial chain, so as to promote the progress of related industries and achieve comprehensive benefits.

At present, carbon fiber is mainly used in aerospace, industrial applications, sports and leisure. However, the proportion of carbon fiber used in aerospace and industrial applications is far less than that of developed countries. Therefore, we should focus on promoting the industrialization of high-end varieties of carbon fiber, and promote the exchange and integration of dual-use technology and resources.

In addition, adhering to the combination of market orientation and policy guidance is also determined by the development of new high-tech materials such as carbon fiber and the current stage of development.

Building an internationally competitive carbon fiber enterprise

The plan also puts forward specific targets for the future development of carbon fiber. The plan shows that the short-term goal is to build a carbon fiber and its composite industrial system after three years' efforts, and the industrial application market of carbon fiber has begun to take shape. The product quality of PAN precursor and high-strength carbon fiber is close to the international advanced level. The production of high-strength carbon fiber single line capacity reaches 1000 tons, and the production of supporting raw silk is industrialized. The high strength model carbon fiber is industrialized, and the key technology of high model and high strength and high modulus carbon fiber suddenly bankrupt industrialization (initial industrialization). At the same time, we should expand the application market of CFRP, basically meet the national key project construction and market demand. In addition, the ability to create intellectual property rights of carbon fiber will be significantly improved, the layout of patents will be significantly strengthened, and the concentration of carbon fiber production will be further improved.

The long-term goal is that China's carbon fiber technology innovation, industrialization capability and comprehensive competitiveness will reach international level by 2020. The varieties and specifications of carbon fiber are complete, which basically meet the needs of various kinds of carbon fiber and composite products in the national economy and defense science and technology industry. Initially, 2~3 large scale carbon fiber enterprises with international competitiveness and a number of innovative carbon fiber and its composite industrial clusters with strong innovation ability and distinctive industrial chain have been initially formed.

According to the insiders, the plan is compared with the draft opinions issued by the Ministry of industry before the Ministry of Industry issued the "guiding opinions on accelerating the continuous and healthy development of the carbon fiber industry". On the development goal, the emphasis is on enhancing the quality and technology of carbon fiber, while emphasizing the application of carbon fiber. For example, the market for industrial application of carbon fiber should be taken shape, and on the path of implementation, it is pointed out that the industrial chain should be improved and the cooperation between upstream and downstream should be strengthened. At the same time, the long-term goal of the plan is even higher. For example, the draft is only required to build 3~5 backbone enterprises in China by 2020, and the plan proposes to form a 2~3 carbon fiber large enterprise group with international competitiveness. Some experts believe that this index is in line with the reality of development and is also compelled by the international situation.

At present, the world's major carbon fiber producers have accelerated the industrial layout. Japanese imperial people and Dongli have proposed expansion plans in succession, and have made breakthroughs in R & D. Moreover, these companies have intensified their cooperation with downstream applications. For example, Dongli will inject 20% of carbon fiber parts suppliers to GM and other enterprises, and set up a complete system from development to production and sale in the United States. Nike, a Japanese subsidiary of toko, has also produced smart phone and tablet PC's carbon fiber shell for a mobile phone manufacturer. Zhu Bo believes that these industry giants strengthen cooperation with downstream enterprises or participate in the production of downstream products, while improving the R & D production system, and at the same time, they are also occupying the market.

　　 Group breakthrough technology

In order to achieve the above goals, according to the plan, the industry will focus on organizing four major actions, namely, key technology innovation actions, industrialization promotion actions, industrial transformation and upgrading actions, and downstream application expansion actions.

Among them, the key technology innovation action is attracting attention. The plan proposes to break through key generic technologies, strengthen R & D service platform construction and implement intellectual property strategy.

At present, the short board of the development of China's carbon fiber industry is that many enterprises are fighting for themselves and their strength is scattered. Many industry insiders told reporters that development technology has reached a consensus, but the "closed door" research and development of individual enterprises not only duplicated labor, wasted energy and financial resources, but also slowed down the pace of technological progress in the industry. Some enterprises, even inside, do not have a better technology management and promotion plan. They often come to a group of experts to do a batch of work, and take a group of experts and start from scratch. Zhu Bo believes that carbon fiber materials as a national strategic industry, facing foreign competition, should concentrate on concentrating talents to make the carbon fiber industry bigger and stronger. Zhang Guoliang also said that the industry should communicate more and break the mystery of carbon fiber.

The plan has made a guiding description for this phenomenon: relying on national science and technology major projects and other scientific and technological plans, vigorously support research institutions, enterprise technology centers and industry organizations, and systematically study the key technologies of the whole industrial chain of carbon fiber and composite materials, and the key technologies of bankruptcy and industrialization.

"Dry jet wet spinning GQ45 high performance carbon fiber engineering key technology and equipment development" project is jointly developed by Zhongfu divine eagle Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd., Lianyungang Eagle travel Textile Machinery Co., Ltd., China Composite Material Group Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu oshen Refco Group Ltd. This has become a model for studying the key technologies of the whole industrial chain of carbon fiber and composite materials.

Because the high performance fiber industry chain has the characteristics of integrated function and structure, it needs collaborative innovation platform, which makes it extremely urgent to establish industrial alliance. The plan points out that we will actively promote the construction of the carbon fiber and its composites industry alliance, forming a platform for backbone enterprises and downstream users, joint development of research institutes, patent sharing, demonstration application, and technology exchange and cooperation. In this regard, the operation mode of Japan's carbon fiber industry alliance has a reference for China's carbon fiber industry.

Japan's carbon fiber industry alliance is rich in membership, covering the entire carbon fiber industry chain. Members include not only carbon fiber manufacturers, but also intermediate materials manufacturing enterprises, composite materials processing enterprises, and materials recycling enterprises. Among them, the product line of carbon fiber manufacturers is mostly complete, and has a complete production line from raw silk to carbon fiber to composite materials, and some carbon fiber manufacturers also produce terminal materials for carbon fiber composite materials. This enables the alliance to fully grasp the problems and needs in the industry, effectively serve all aspects of the industrial chain, and is also conducive to the complementarity, risk sharing and benefit sharing among members in the market competition.

At the same time, in order to further mobilize the enthusiasm of R & D enterprises and organizations, the plan also proposes to develop and implement intellectual property strategy around the carbon fiber industry to form a strategic intellectual property portfolio that meets the needs of market competition.

Corresponding to upgrading technology is to curb low-level redundant construction. According to the plan, the state will no longer encourage the construction of new high strength GQ3522 grade carbon fiber production line. The new high strength GQ4522 grade carbon fiber industrial production unit should have a single set capacity of not less than 1000 tons / year. The consumption of acrylonitrile is less than 1.1 tons per ton of acrylonitrile precursor products, and the consumption of acrylonitrile precursor is less than 2.1 tons per ton of carbon fiber products. At the same time, in order to curb low-level redundant construction and standardize market order, it will guide local, enterprise and social capital to invest in carbon fiber dominant enterprises and high-end projects, and encourage conditional areas to set up special funds for the development of carbon fiber industry.

Upgrading technology and reducing costs simultaneously

Zhang Guoliang, chairman of Zhongfu divine eagle Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd.

At present, the development of China's carbon fiber industry is still facing multiple challenges, and its overall level is lagging behind that of Japan and the United States. The industry is still in the initial stage of development.

　 The main problems of China's carbon fiber industry:

First, the pressure of funds. enterprise It is the main body of technological innovation of carbon fiber. However, the maturity of carbon fiber technology is not high enough, and the need for continuous technological R & D and innovation will inevitably bring financial pressure. The two is high production cost. International oil price fluctuation countries, rising manpower cost, upgrading cost of equipment maintenance and upgrading, and higher power consumption in CF production. Three, the market is unstable. Foreign carbon fiber giants use high performance carbon fiber to make up for the loss of general grade carbon fiber, reduce the price of China's carbon fiber, and the price of domestic carbon fiber is controlled by people everywhere.

There are two main problems in China's carbon fiber industry at present.

The first is the technological gap. China is currently in the transition period from T300 general level to high-performance T700 and T800. In 80s, Japan's carbon fiber enterprises had achieved the industrialization of T700 and T800 grade carbon fibers, compared with the distance of nearly 30 years. The two is to cultivate gaps in the downstream market of carbon fiber. Foreign carbon fiber enterprises have established a more complete carbon fiber industrial chain, while maintaining the leading position of carbon fiber, and actively developing carbon fiber composites. Most of the domestic enterprises stay in the forefront of the industrial chain from oil to carbon fiber.

　 The development trend of China's carbon fiber industry is also gradually clear in its exploration.

　　 First, stabilize production and raise the level of T700 and T800 carbon fiber industrialization.

The performance of the small batch carbon fiber produced by the domestic high-performance carbon fiber in engineering production is different from that of the foreign similar products, and the technical progress is closely related to the application process performance of the carbon fiber.

　 Two is to reduce the cost of raw silk and develop new carbon fiber precursors.

One is to improve the production process of raw silk; the two is to explore the use of other materials outside PAN for the preparation of high performance carbon fiber precursors; three, by improving the polymerization monomer and polymerization technology, the precursor with the same structure as pre oxidized fiber can be formed at the polymerization stage.

　　 The three is to develop new technologies for pre oxidation, carbonization and graphitization.

Developing new pre oxidation technology, shortening pre oxidation time, reducing the cost of carbonization and graphitization, developing microwave technology, and independently developing energy-saving and efficient carbonization equipment.

The direction of China's carbon fiber industry is also more specific: in terms of technology, carbon fiber production enterprises should adhere to their main position of innovation, and further develop production and research integration and collaborative innovation. In terms of equipment, we must adhere to the road of independent innovation and production research cooperation; two, we should actively take the road of collaborative innovation with digestion, attraction and innovation. On the market side, we should give play to the basic and leading role of the government and standardize the development order of the carbon fiber industry chain. In the industry chain, in pursuit of product stabilization, we must strengthen cooperation with the back-end application enterprises and build a complete industrial chain.

After major breakthroughs in the "dry jet wet spinning GQ45 high performance carbon fiber engineering key technology and equipment development" project, the next step of Zhongfu eagle's focus is to rapidly expand the production scale of high quality carbon fiber, accelerate the research of product differentiation, develop high modulus, high strength and high temperature resistant carbon fibers with various special properties, and increase the added value of products.

Among them, two projects are important. First, carbon fiber production is the main measure to reduce energy consumption, stabilize production and improve single line capacity. cost The two is to strengthen the research on application technology of carbon fiber and further extend the industrial chain, so as to promote the progress of related industries and achieve comprehensive benefits.