JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #35 - September 2007 - 18

Design can be used to combine different types of raw materials and bring unique characteristics into play, such as lower weight, integration of functions, modularity and smart properties. These light but very strong materials continue to demonstrate how essential they are in any number of application areas. Over the past decade, the intensive development of glass fibre and glass-fibre products has provided many functional fibres that meet the requirements of FRP design and manufacturing in China. Technological development The development of equipment technology is driving domestic applications for FRP and composite materials in China. For instance, Jiangsu Wuxi Hengda Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. has been tracking the development of UPR processing at home and abroad for the past 20 years, continuously enhancing its equipment manufacturing technology. The company recently developed alcohol recycling devices to enhance the resin yields of UPR producers and lower their production costs. Some FRP equipment manufacturers in China have been introducing advanced foreign technologies over the past decade and developing their own machinery. These technologies include SMC, BMC, pultrusion, filament winding, artificial stone, and continuous panel making. China’s largest mould manufacturing base is located in Taizhou and Ningbo (Zhejiang Province). All this equipment serves to meet China’s FRP development and export requirements in low-cost, high-volume applications. To promote the application of domestic FRP and composite materials, some famous domestic and foreign-funded enterprises have established a series of service platforms to provide downstream companies with material and technical support. Services include a complete set of standard testing methods that are applied to liquid resins, casting resins, FRP parts, processing methods, structural design and application data such as ageing and fatigue properties. As the wind-energy “wave” is reaching the domestic market, European and American resin producers have been accumulating material performance data for the manufacture of large blades. As soon as China acquires foreign windenergy technology, these companies will no doubt establish cooperative partnerships with Chinese blade manufacturers. An example of this type of cooperation in operation is the flue gas desulphurization (FGD) technology China uses in its coal-fired electric power plants, which is driving epoxy/vinylesterresin applications based on German engineering design. China has also become the world’s export base for pianos and violins, giving rise to applications for high-quality polyester coatings. And FRP shipbuilding in China is getting a boost from a lot of European, American and Taiwanese companies that are getting a foothold on the mainland, propelling Chinese luxury FRP boats into the world yacht market. Domestic UPR producers, which must have their product approved by international marine societies, try to help FRP boat manufacturers to make good use of their materials. example of new development is China Yabang and Tianjin Hecai’s DCPD modified UPR, which has been hailed by FRP enterprises as a low-cost, highperformance resin. Annual production of this resin nationwide has already reached 150,000 metric tons. Future prospects The Chinese UPR industry is facing a good outlook in terms of continuous development of the international and domestic markets over the next five to ten years. There is an imbalance in the present UPR development pattern of China, however, as UPR production is concentrated in the coastal areas. The development of composite materials in China’s midwestern and north-eastern regions, as well as in the surrounding countries and regions, will boost UPR production and export demand. UPR production should exceed 1.25 million tons in 2007, to reach around 1.5 million tons by 2010. Within a few years, as the market economy improves, the focus will turn to UPR quality, varieties and brands. UPR development in China is still in the early stages. Some international UPR companies are entering the Chinese market to share their experience with local enterprises, connecting them with the global market. To take one example, Jiangsu Yabang Coating Company was just another small, unknown factory twenty years ago. Ten years later, it began to position itself in the market; today, it is the leading UPR producer in volume throughout China. The UPR industry will continue to adhere to independent innovation and technological creation, to consolidate and expand the present market, and to seek new markets by participating in the competition for other composite materials. The Chinese composite market is highly diversified, with engineering plastics, rubber plastics, epoxy- and phenolic-based fibre-reinforced composites, and inorganic binders all playing important roles, together with UPR. Because of its unique processing The cost issue To promote the application of Chinese FRPs and composite materials, some resin producers are developing a series of universal resins with a suitable cost/performance ratio and a wide scope of application for high-volume production using low-cost technology. The low-cost resins are developed to meet the market demand, and help to give FRP enterprises a competitive edge with respect to other materials in the market. While some FRP enterprises find it difficult to accept the constantly rising prices of epoxy/vinylester resins, the Shanghai Huachang Company has responded by developing a resin and catalyst using PTA and PET waste from Shanghai Petrochemicals. Another No35 September 2007 / JEC Composites Magazine

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #35 - September 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #35 - September 2007