I News
Driven by the general trend of energy conservation and emission reduction, the demand for "lightening" of automobiles has become stronger, making carbon fiber materials with high strength and light weight performance the "new favorite" of the automotive industry. At present, automakers such as BMW, Audi and General Motors in Germany have launched new models using carbon fiber components, and are very interested in further expanding the application scope of this new material. Industry analysts pointed out that in addition to the automotive industry, carbon fiber is also suitable for wind power generation, aerospace and military industries. With the development of technology and the improvement of cost performance, the application scope of carbon fiber is expected to continue to expand, and the demand will gradually increase.
Car companies are very interested in carbon fiber
In promoting the application of carbon fiber materials, BMW can be called the "pioneer" of the automotive industry. In the i3 electric and i8 hybrid models that have just been launched, carbon fiber has become the main material of the body structure for the first time. BMW has included the application of carbon fiber in its main development plan and plans to use it in more models. It is reported that the next generation of BMW 7 Series and X5 and 6 Series models are expected to use a large amount of carbon fiber to comprehensively reduce the weight of the body and improve the overall performance of the vehicle. SGL, headquartered in Germany, is the main supplier of carbon fiber accessories for BMW. In 2009, the company established a joint venture with BMW to produce carbon fiber accessories. Recently, BMW has invested nearly $200 million to increase its carbon fiber production capacity from 3,000 tons per year to 9,000 tons. BMW's progress in the application of carbon fiber has attracted the attention of its peers. Kohler, CEO of SGL Carbon, revealed on the 22nd that the company is discussing the supply of carbon fiber with several automakers other than BMW, and it may be more widely used in auto parts in the future. He said: "Volkswagen's Audi and Lamborghini are interested in using a large number of carbon fiber parts. General Motors has recently hinted that it hopes to use more carbon fiber, and Porsche is also very interested in this." Tesla CEO Musk also said recently that the company is discussing potential cooperation with BMW, involving automotive batteries and lightweight parts. Musk specifically pointed out that the carbon fiber reinforced body parts produced by BMW are "very interesting" and can improve energy efficiency. In addition to BMW, Audi, Rolls-Royce and other automakers have also launched models using carbon fiber materials. As a new material, the primary problem facing carbon fiber in popularization and application is the high cost. According to data from strategic consulting firm Roland Berger, carbon fiber costs $20 per kilogram, compared to less than $1 per kilogram for traditional steel materials. Because of this, the material is currently mostly used only in high-end sports cars. However, according to senior executives of MAI Carbon, a German carbon fiber material research and development organization, the company has received 80 million euros in support from the German government for the research and development of a project to reduce the manufacturing cost of carbon fiber by 90%. It is reported that MAI Carbon has cooperated with more than 70 companies such as BMW and Audi in the field of carbon fiber.
The application field is constantly expanding
Carbon fiber is a new type of high-strength and high-modulus fiber material with a carbon content of more than 95%. Its weight is one-quarter that of ordinary steel and 30% lighter than aluminum, but its strength is 10 times that of steel. Carbon fiber was first used mainly in sports and leisure fields such as fishing rods and golf clubs. With the development of technology and the improvement of cost-effectiveness, the demand for carbon fiber in wind power generation, automotive industry, aerospace and military industry has gradually increased. Recently, the world's largest carbon fiber manufacturer, Japan's Toray (3402.JP), announced that it had received an order of carbon fiber for aircraft worth $8.6 billion from Boeing, becoming the largest order Toray has received in the field of aircraft manufacturing. According to data, Toray has carbon fiber factories in four countries around the world. At present, the total global carbon fiber production capacity is about 84,000 tons, of which Toray accounts for nearly 40%. Another Japanese carbon fiber product manufacturer, Teijin (3401.JP), is a supplier of carbon fiber components for Airbus A380 passenger aircraft. The company recently announced a cooperation with General Motors of the United States to develop a mass production project of carbon fiber materials to promote the popularization of the material. Teijin said that as automakers seek lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency, it is expected that by 2020, global sales of cars using carbon fiber accessories will reach 3 million, accounting for a quarter of all energy-saving and environmentally friendly models. In the past month, Toray's stock price traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan has risen by 37%, from 670 yen per share to 920 yen; Teijin's stock price has risen by 36%, from 239 yen per share to 324 yen. In addition to the automotive and aircraft manufacturing fields, carbon fiber has also become a reliable choice for wind turbine blades because the development of offshore wind power requires new materials and equipment that are lighter, more tensile and more corrosion-resistant. A research report by China Shenyin Wanguo Securities pointed out that carbon fiber will be widely used in defense and military industry, aerospace, leisure sports, automobiles and other fields. As the market for new energy vehicles gradually opens up, the demand for carbon fiber will increase. The BMW i3 uses a lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic body based on an all-aluminum body frame structure.
Car companies are very interested in carbon fiber
In promoting the application of carbon fiber materials, BMW can be called the "pioneer" of the automotive industry. In the i3 electric and i8 hybrid models that have just been launched, carbon fiber has become the main material of the body structure for the first time. BMW has included the application of carbon fiber in its main development plan and plans to use it in more models. It is reported that the next generation of BMW 7 Series and X5 and 6 Series models are expected to use a large amount of carbon fiber to comprehensively reduce the weight of the body and improve the overall performance of the vehicle. SGL, headquartered in Germany, is the main supplier of carbon fiber accessories for BMW. In 2009, the company established a joint venture with BMW to produce carbon fiber accessories. Recently, BMW has invested nearly $200 million to increase its carbon fiber production capacity from 3,000 tons per year to 9,000 tons. BMW's progress in the application of carbon fiber has attracted the attention of its peers. Kohler, CEO of SGL Carbon, revealed on the 22nd that the company is discussing the supply of carbon fiber with several automakers other than BMW, and it may be more widely used in auto parts in the future. He said: "Volkswagen's Audi and Lamborghini are interested in using a large number of carbon fiber parts. General Motors has recently hinted that it hopes to use more carbon fiber, and Porsche is also very interested in this." Tesla CEO Musk also said recently that the company is discussing potential cooperation with BMW, involving automotive batteries and lightweight parts. Musk specifically pointed out that the carbon fiber reinforced body parts produced by BMW are "very interesting" and can improve energy efficiency. In addition to BMW, Audi, Rolls-Royce and other automakers have also launched models using carbon fiber materials. As a new material, the primary problem facing carbon fiber in popularization and application is the high cost. According to data from strategic consulting firm Roland Berger, carbon fiber costs $20 per kilogram, compared to less than $1 per kilogram for traditional steel materials. Because of this, the material is currently mostly used only in high-end sports cars. However, according to senior executives of MAI Carbon, a German carbon fiber material research and development organization, the company has received 80 million euros in support from the German government for the research and development of a project to reduce the manufacturing cost of carbon fiber by 90%. It is reported that MAI Carbon has cooperated with more than 70 companies such as BMW and Audi in the field of carbon fiber.
The application field is constantly expanding
Carbon fiber is a new type of high-strength and high-modulus fiber material with a carbon content of more than 95%. Its weight is one-quarter that of ordinary steel and 30% lighter than aluminum, but its strength is 10 times that of steel. Carbon fiber was first used mainly in sports and leisure fields such as fishing rods and golf clubs. With the development of technology and the improvement of cost-effectiveness, the demand for carbon fiber in wind power generation, automotive industry, aerospace and military industry has gradually increased. Recently, the world's largest carbon fiber manufacturer, Japan's Toray (3402.JP), announced that it had received an order of carbon fiber for aircraft worth $8.6 billion from Boeing, becoming the largest order Toray has received in the field of aircraft manufacturing. According to data, Toray has carbon fiber factories in four countries around the world. At present, the total global carbon fiber production capacity is about 84,000 tons, of which Toray accounts for nearly 40%. Another Japanese carbon fiber product manufacturer, Teijin (3401.JP), is a supplier of carbon fiber components for Airbus A380 passenger aircraft. The company recently announced a cooperation with General Motors of the United States to develop a mass production project of carbon fiber materials to promote the popularization of the material. Teijin said that as automakers seek lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency, it is expected that by 2020, global sales of cars using carbon fiber accessories will reach 3 million, accounting for a quarter of all energy-saving and environmentally friendly models. In the past month, Toray's stock price traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan has risen by 37%, from 670 yen per share to 920 yen; Teijin's stock price has risen by 36%, from 239 yen per share to 324 yen. In addition to the automotive and aircraft manufacturing fields, carbon fiber has also become a reliable choice for wind turbine blades because the development of offshore wind power requires new materials and equipment that are lighter, more tensile and more corrosion-resistant. A research report by China Shenyin Wanguo Securities pointed out that carbon fiber will be widely used in defense and military industry, aerospace, leisure sports, automobiles and other fields. As the market for new energy vehicles gradually opens up, the demand for carbon fiber will increase. The BMW i3 uses a lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic body based on an all-aluminum body frame structure.