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Market Size and Future Development Trend Forecast of the Aramid Fiber Industry

Global

Reached 26.929 billion yuan in 2024; further grew to 40.112 billion yuan in 2025. Another forecast shows that the global market will maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 8.5% between 2025 and 2030, with the size expected to reach 29.691 billion yuan by 2030 and possibly exceed 69.45 billion yuan by 2032

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China Achieved a market size of 7.723 billion yuan in 2024; 2025 market size has different calculation results from various institutions: 1.85 billion yuan, 12 billion yuan and 13.762 billion yuan respectively (differences due to different statistical calibers, most likely whether data related to upstream and downstream supporting industries are included). Among the segmented categories, the meta-aramid market size will be about 1.46 billion yuan in 2025, accounting for 78.9% of the total market share; para-aramid will be about 390 million yuan, accounting for 21.1%. It is expected that the domestic localization rate will increase from 65% in 2025 to 75% by 2030, the production capacity of para-aramid is expected to reach 89,000 tons, and meta-aramid will grow to 32,000 tons. The overall market size is expected to exceed 3 billion yuan, and some forecasts even suggest it will reach 7.5 billion yuan.



2. Future Development Trend Forecast

  • Accelerated domestic substitution: Previously, core aramid fiber technologies were long monopolized by European, American and Japanese enterprises. In recent years, however, domestic enterprises such as Taihe New Materials and Sinochem High-performance Fiber Materials Co., Ltd. have continuously broken through key technologies. For example, Sinochem High-performance Fiber has realized the industrialization of high-strength and high-modulus para-aramid. Meanwhile, at the policy level, documents such as "Made in China 2025" and "Guidelines for the Development of the New Materials Industry" continue to provide support, driving increased R&D investment in the industry. It is expected that the domestic localization rate of aramid fiber in China will rise to 75% by 2030, and the self-sufficiency rate of para-aramid will also increase from less than 50% in 2024 to more than 70%, significantly reducing dependence on imports.
  • Continuous expansion and deepening of application fields: Currently, aramid fiber has the highest proportion in the safety protection field, reaching 46% in 2025, and this proportion will continue to rise in the future, expected to reach 49% by 2030. At the same time, the transportation sector is an important growth driver. With the lightweight of new energy vehicles and the mass production of domestic large aircraft, the consumption of aramid fiber in automobiles, aerospace and other fields will increase significantly. The application proportion in this field is expected to rise from 35% in 2025 to 45%. In addition, the development of 5G communication and the Internet of Things has led to a surge in demand for aramid fiber in the electronic and electrical field, such as mobile phone antennas and base station radomes. Its application in this field is expected to grow by about 40% in the next five years.
  • Product structure upgrading towards high performance: Currently, meta-aramid dominates the market, but para-aramid has greater demand growth potential due to its key role in high-end fields such as aerospace and national defense. As Zhuzhou Times New Materials breaks through the key technology of meta-aramid dry-jet wet spinning and Shaanxi University of Science & Technology develops interface-enhanced aramid paper, domestic enterprises are constantly optimizing production processes. The proportion of high-performance and high-value-added aramid products will gradually increase, driving the overall product structure upgrading of the industry.
  • Increasing concentration of regional production capacity layout: Globally, aramid fiber production capacity expansion in East Asia is obvious, and it is expected to contribute nearly 40% of the global new production capacity by 2028. Domestically, the Ningdong Base has become the largest aramid fiber production base in China, with an annual production capacity of 16,500 tons of para-aramid. In the future, such industrial agglomeration effect may further highlight. Industrial developed regions such as East China and South China will continue to be the core layout areas of the aramid fiber industry, relying on advantages such as strong downstream demand and improved supply chains.
Time:2025-11-17      Number of Views:191
Rapid and Large-Scale Production of Aramid Nanofibers via Molecular Intercalation

Abstract

As the latest generation of high-performance building materials at the nanoscale, para-aramid nanofibers (ANFs) have attracted considerable attention in the scientific community in recent years due to their unique ability to form high-porosity solids and a rare combination of physical properties. However, the presence of strong hydrogen bonds and other intermolecular interactions in aramid macromolecules poses significant challenges to their large-scale and sustainable production. These interactions result in lengthy processes and the need for highly corrosive solvents. In this study, by innovatively leveraging the efficient exfoliation properties of polymer nanosheets, we successfully shortened the preparation time of para-aramid nanofibers by 25 to 20 times (from 1 week to 4 minutes) while increasing the concentration by 10 times. Through molecular intercalation-induced method, we prepared novel ribbon-like aramid nanofibers. Multi-scale simulation studies revealed that the exfoliation process of nanofibers originates from the intercalation of alcohols at the nanoscale interface. In pilot-scale tests, 1000 kilograms of nanofiber dispersion were successfully prepared in just half an hour. These breakthrough results verify the effective recyclability of aramid materials, enabling their successful application in the preparation of various multifunctional nanofiber composites.

Calculation-Related Figures and Text



Figure 1. Depolymerization process of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) microfibers.

(a) Alcohol molecule intercalation induces the splitting of PPTA microfibers into dispersed ANFs. (b) Optical microscope images of PPTA microfiber depolymerization in DMSO + potassium hydroxide + isopropanol solution; scale bar = 20 μm. (c) Atomic force microscope (AFM) image of dispersed ANFs. The inset shows the Tyndall effect of 1 wt% ANF dispersion. (d) Molecular structure of PPTA microfibers. (e) Molecular structure of PPTA microfibers after deprotonation by potassium hydroxide in solution. (f) Deprotonated PPTA structure after charge redistribution. (g) Process of isopropanol molecule intercalation between ANFs. (h) The left Y-axis and bar chart represent the time required for complete depolymerization of 1 wt% ANF dispersion in the presence of different alkyl alcohol molecules, and the X-axis shows different alkyl alcohols. The formulas below the X-axis and the ball-and-stick models on the bar chart illustrate the steric hindrance effects and conformational differences of these alcohols. The right Y-axis and orange line represent the hydrogen bond (HB) binding energy between different alcohols and deprotonated PPTA. The steric hindrance, conformation, and polarity of intercalated molecules have significant impacts on the depolymerization process. (i) Comparison of depolymerization time between mechanical fibrillation and molecular intercalation methods.

Figure 2. Morphology and assembled structure of ribbon-like nanofiber arrays (ANFs).

(a) Thickness distribution of ribbon-like ANFs measured by AFM. (b) AFM image of ANFs. (c) AFM image of ribbon-like ANFs showing narrow thickness distribution and ribbon-like morphology. (d) Magnified AFM image of a single ribbon-like ANF. (e) Height profile of a single ribbon-like ANF showing ribbon width. (f, g) SEM images of assembled ribbon-like ANFs showing layered films and spliced ribbon-like structures. (h) XRD curves of films formed by ANFs prepared via three different methods, showing anisotropic distribution of crystal planes in films formed by molecularly intercalated ANFs. (i) Two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD) image of traditional ANF film. (j) 2D-WAXD image of ribbon-like ANF film showing obvious preferential orientation of the 200 crystal plane.

Figure 3. In-situ characterization of the disassembly process via molecular intercalation.

(a−c) SEM images showing different stages of PPTA microfiber disassembly within 1, 2, and 3 minutes after contact with the solution. (d−f) TEM images demonstrating the disassembly of micron-scale PPTA fibers into nanofibers at different magnifications. (g) TEM image showing ANFs with uniform diameter distribution and high aspect ratio. (h) AFM image showing the network structure of fine ANFs. (i) XRD patterns of PPTA microfibers and ANFs prepared by three different methods as listed in the legend, showing high crystallinity of ANFs after disassembly. (j) Cumulative spider diagram of graph theory parameters for three aerogels. (k) SEM image of ANF aerogel prepared by traditional mechanical nanofibrillation (DMSO + potassium hydroxide); (l) Nanofibrillation process in DMSO + potassium hydroxide + water; (m) Molecular intercalation process in DMSO + potassium hydroxide + IPA. (n−p) Corresponding graph theory intercalation of ANF networks.


Figure 4. Characterization and mechanical analysis of molecular intercalation-assisted disassembly process.

(a) UV-visible spectra of ANF dispersions at different mixing times. (b) Atomic Dipole Corrected Hirshfeld (ADCH) charge distribution before and after deprotonation in DMSO solvent. (c, d) Dynamic light scattering (XPS) spectra of PPTA microfibers and their surface-treated counterparts. (e) Raman spectra of PPTA microfibers, ANF dispersions after different mixing times, and PPTA nanofibers (ANF). (f, g) Comparison of intermediate states of isopropanol and DMSO molecules during permeation through nanochannels between two typical deprotonated interfaces dominated by different interactions: the first is dominated by π-π stacking and van der Waals forces, and the second by hydrogen bonding. (h) Number of molecules entering the nanochannels during permeation. (i, j) Simulation snapshots showing the separation process of deprotonated PPTA-PPTA crystal interfaces after intercalation of isopropanol and DMSO molecules. (k) Comparative analysis of interface peak force and fracture energy during the separation of PPTA-PPTA crystal interfaces under different conditions. (l) In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of PPTA microfiber dissociation process, revealing differences in dissociation rates of different crystal planes.

Figure 5. Large-scale production and applications of aramid nanofibers (ANFs).

(a) Different types of waste aramid materials. (b) Recycled ANFs and separated non-aramid components in composites. (c) ANF-based aerogels, hydrogels, and transparent films. (d) Intrinsic viscosity and average molecular weight of pristine aramid materials and recycled ANFs. (e-g) Performance of 1000 kg of 1 wt% ANF dispersion in pilot-scale tests; the container of ANFs in (g) has a capacity of 50 liters. (h) Semi-solid ANF dispersion with a solid content of 10 wt%; scale bar = 1 cm.

Core Content of Calculations

The computational work focused on the molecular intercalation mechanism, interfacial interactions, and separation processes, covering three levels:

1. Electronic structure calculations (DFT):

· Analyze charge redistribution of para-aramid (PPTA) chains before and after deprotonation.

· Calculate binding energies between different alcohol molecules and deprotonated PPTA chains.

· Simulate the static process and energy changes of isopropanol (IPA) molecule insertion between PPTA chains.

1. Molecular dynamics simulations (MD):

· Simulate the permeation kinetics of solvent molecules (IPA/DMSO) in PPTA crystal nanochannels.

· Compare separation behaviors of different interfaces (π-π stacking-dominated vs. hydrogen bond-dominated).

· Quantify interface peak force and fracture energy to evaluate the weakening effect of intercalated molecules on interface bonding.

1. Graph Theory (GT) analysis:

· Quantify the network structure of ANF aerogels from SEM images.

· Compare ANF network parameters (e.g., average degree, average clustering coefficient) prepared by different methods.

Key Computational Parameters and Methods

1. DFT calculation parameters:

· Software and functionals: Gaussian 09 (B3LYP functional), VASP (PBE-GGA).

· Basis set and solvent model: 6-311++G** basis set, SMD implicit solvent model (DMSO environment).

· Correction method: Grimme DFT-D3 correction for van der Waals forces.

· Charge analysis: Atomic Dipole Corrected Hirshfeld (ADCH) charges (Figure 4b).

· Binding energy formula: EBinding = EPPTA...Alcohol − (EPPTA + EAlcohol)

1. MD simulation parameters:

· Force field: ReaxFF reactive force field (describes non-bonding interactions such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces).

· Simulation conditions: NVT ensemble, 300 K, time step 0.25 fs, simulation duration 1 ns (permeation process) and 200 ps (interface separation).

· Interface separation settings: Constant stretching speed of 1 m/s, spring constant of 1000 kcal/mol·Å².

1. GT analysis parameters:

· Network parameters: Average Degree, Average Clustering Coefficient, path length, etc. (Table S1).

Computational Conclusions

1. Essence of intercalation mechanism: IPA molecules form strong hydrogen bonds with oxygen atoms of deprotonated PPTA chains (optimal binding energy), preferentially intercalate into π-π stacking-dominated interfaces, and significantly weaken interlayer forces.

2. Kinetic advantage of interface separation: The mixed solvent of IPA and DMSO reduces interface peak force and fracture energy more effectively than pure DMSO (Figure 4k), increasing separation efficiency by 25 to 20 times.

3. Morphological selectivity: XRD and MD simulations (Figure 4l) show that IPA preferentially intercalates along the (200) crystal plane (π-π stacking plane), resulting in ANFs with a ribbon-like morphology (thickness ~2 nm, width 20-30 nm).

4. Difference in network structure: GT analysis indicates that ANF networks prepared by molecular intercalation have higher local connection density (Figure 3j), explaining the excellent mechanical and thermal insulation properties of their aerogels.

Summary

Through multi-scale correlation of electronic structure, molecular dynamics, and macroscale networks, the computational part demonstrates that IPA intercalation can achieve efficient and controllable preparation of ANFs by precisely regulating the cleavage path of non-covalent bonds. This mechanism provides a theoretical basis and design strategy for the green recycling of high-performance nanomaterials.

Time:2025-11-06      Number of Views:179
Development Status of High-Performance Composite Materials

1 Analysis of Macro Demand for High-Performance Composite Materials in China

1.1 High-Performance Composite Materials are Key Basic Materials to Meet the Support and Guarantee Needs in the Field of National Security

With their excellent specific strength, specific modulus, high-temperature resistance and good designability, high-performance composite materials are widely used in the national defense and military industry. Taking aerospace as an example, high-performance carbon fiber composite materials are the preferred materials for manufacturing key structural components such as the fuselage and wings of large civil aircraft, accounting for more than 50% of the total mass of the aircraft structure. In the aerospace field, high-performance composite materials are widely used in key components such as rocket engine casings, satellite cabins and solar panels, effectively reducing the structural mass of spacecraft and improving the carrying capacity. In addition, high-performance aramid fiber and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber composite materials also play an irreplaceable role in military equipment such as bulletproof, explosion-proof and armor protection.

At present, with the continuous advancement of national defense modernization and the acceleration of the upgrading and replacement of weapons and equipment, higher performance requirements have been put forward for high-performance composite materials. Especially in the development of cutting-edge weapons and equipment such as hot-end components of aero-engines and hypersonic vehicles, it is urgent to break through key material technologies such as high-performance silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites and ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites to support leapfrog development. Meanwhile, with the continuous improvement of the national defense science and technology industry system, the localization process of key materials such as high-performance aramid fiber, carbon fiber and glass fiber will be further accelerated. It is foreseeable that in the next period of time, high-performance composite materials will play an increasingly important role in safeguarding national strategic security and enhancing national defense strength.

1.2 High-Performance Composite Materials are Key Materials Leading Technological Upgrading

In the civil field, high-performance composite materials also have broad application prospects. Taking the new energy field as an example, large wind turbines have become the mainstream development direction of the wind power industry, and the large-scale development of wind turbine blades is inseparable from the strong support of carbon fiber composite materials. It is estimated that after adopting carbon fiber composite materials, the blade of a megawatt-class wind turbine can reduce weight by 20%~30%, and power output can increase by 5%~8%, with significant comprehensive benefits. In the field of rail transit, car bodies containing composites such as carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced plastic have become standard equipment for a new generation of EMUs such as the "Fuxing" series. Composites have greatly improved the operating speed, safety and comfort of trains. In addition, in fields such as 5G communication base station radomes, marine engineering and pressure vessels, high-performance glass fiber reinforced plastic and carbon fiber composite materials will also usher in broad market space. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that since the 13th Five-Year Plan period, under the guidance of the national policy for the development of strategic emerging industries, the overall scale of China's high-performance fiber and composite material industry has grown rapidly at an average annual rate of more than 10%. By 2020, the market demand has approached 30 billion yuan. In the future, with the further improvement of the key material system and the continuous expansion of downstream application fields, the market demand for high-performance composite materials will continue to maintain a rapid growth trend.

1.3 High-Performance Composite Materials are an Urgent Need for China's Green Economic Development

At present, the economic development model oriented towards green, low-carbon and circular development has become a global consensus. In this context, lightweight and environmental protection have become the main direction of transformation and development in many industries. High-performance composite materials have low density and high specific strength, which can significantly reduce product quality while meeting mechanical performance requirements, and have great potential in promoting energy conservation, emission reduction and green development in transportation, construction and other fields. Taking the automotive industry as an example, using carbon fiber composite materials to manufacture car bodies can reduce the overall vehicle weight by more than 50% and fuel consumption by 30%~40%. This is not only of great significance for alleviating energy shortages and reducing air pollution, but also provides important support for China's automotive industry to achieve leapfrog development. It is estimated that if the proportion of carbon fiber composite materials used in China's automobiles reaches 30%, it can save nearly 60 million tons of gasoline per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 170 million tons per year.

In addition, in the field of energy conservation and environmental protection, high-performance fiber-reinforced composite materials are widely used in equipment such as desulfurization towers, dust removal devices and high-temperature flue gas ducts due to their excellent corrosion resistance, aging resistance, thermal insulation and other properties, greatly improving the service life and operational efficiency of environmental protection facilities. It is foreseeable that with the continuous advancement of China's ecological civilization construction and the deepening of the concept of sustainable development, high-performance composite materials will surely play an increasingly important role in promoting the green transformation of industries and building a beautiful China.

2 Development Status of High-Performance Composite Materials in China

2.1 Development Status of High-Performance Fibers

2.1.1 Carbon Fiber

After years of continuous research, domestic carbon fiber has made significant breakthroughs in product types, performance indicators and production scale. T700-grade carbon fiber from key enterprises such as Sinofibers and Guangwei Composites has achieved stable mass production, and its comprehensive performance indicators are comparable to those of Toray Industries of Japan. Meanwhile, the production capacity of carbon fiber precursor at Jilin Carbon Valley has reached 150,000 tons per year, laying a solid foundation for the large-scale development of PAN-based carbon fiber.

In recent years, the planning and layout of the domestic carbon fiber industry have been further optimized, initially forming a new industrial development pattern with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta as the core areas, and the northeast and southwest regions as the two wings. A large number of carbon fiber R&D and production platforms have been built and put into use, providing strong support for the leapfrog development of the industry. Key carbon fiber enterprises represented by Weihai Tuozhan have continued to increase R&D investment to develop T800-grade and M55J-grade high-performance carbon fiber, with continuous improvement in product performance. Emerging enterprises represented by Jilin Jien Magnesium are focusing on the development of low-cost large-tow carbon fiber, leading the industry towards the direction of high performance and low cost.

At present, mainstream domestic carbon fiber enterprises have established relatively complete production process systems and quality management systems, with products covering multiple series such as high-strength, high-modulus, medium-strength and medium-modulus, and large-tow, which are widely used in aerospace, rail transit, new energy and other fields.

2.1.2 Para-Aramid Fiber

In the field of aramid fiber, enterprises such as Yantai Tayho Advanced Materials, Bluestar New Materials and China Aramid Fiber have successfully broken through the technical barriers of industrialized preparation of para-aramid fiber through independent innovation, breaking the monopoly of Japan, the United States and other countries, and meeting the material needs of national defense and military industry, safety protection and other fields to a certain extent. At present, the total domestic production capacity of para-aramid fiber has reached about 33,400 tons per year, showing a year-by-year expansion trend.

However, it must be noted that compared with the international advanced level, domestic para-aramid fiber still has certain gaps in the development of high-end varieties, product quality stability and production cost control. Restricted by factors such as raw material supply, process equipment and market recognition, the operating rate of most enterprises is insufficient, and some production capacity is seriously idle. Overall, the domestic aramid fiber industry is still in the growth stage, and the problem of being large but not strong is prominent. In the future, it is urgent to accelerate the import substitution process of standard-grade para-aramid fiber, strengthen the R&D of high-end products, improve quality stability, reduce production costs, and promote the industrial development towards larger scale and stronger strength.

2.1.3 Glass Fiber

As a traditional reinforcing fiber, glass fiber has a solid industrial foundation and improved supporting capacity after decades of development. At present, China's glass fiber production capacity has exceeded 7.35 million tons per year, ranking first in the world. Industry leaders such as China Jushi and Chongqing International continue to promote the technological transformation of tank furnace wire drawing, and product quality has been continuously improved. Meanwhile, domestic important progress has also been made in the field of special glass fibers such as high-silica and high-strength high-modulus, and a number of high-value-added products have achieved industrialization.

2.2 Development Situation of High-Performance Epoxy Resin and Phenolic Resin for Composite Materials

2.2.1 Epoxy Resin

In the field of epoxy resin, although China has become the world's largest producer and consumer, most products are concentrated in the medium and low-end fields. There are few high-end epoxy resin varieties with unstable quality, and high-purity and high heat distortion temperature epoxy resin for aerospace basically relies on imports. Meanwhile, the modification technology of epoxy resin needs to be strengthened, the development of epoxy prepreg matched with high-performance fibers is lagging behind, and it is difficult to break through common key technologies. These problems restrict the rapid development of the high-performance epoxy resin industry.

2.2.2 Phenolic Resin

Phenolic resin is an important high-temperature resistant resin variety, which is irreplaceable in fields such as carbon/carbon composites for aero-engines. After years of development, China has become the world's largest producer of phenolic resin, and the synthesis and application technology of phenolic resin for glass fiber reinforced plastic is relatively mature. However, in the aerospace field, there is still a large gap between the comprehensive performance of domestic high-end phenolic resin and foreign products, and the batch stability and process adaptability need to be improved. Especially in the molding of large-scale complex components, the required properties such as fast curing and low shrinkage are still difficult to meet. Meanwhile, due to the lack of refined molecular structure design and control means, the development cycle of domestic high-end phenolic resin is long, and the industrialization process is slow.

2.2.3 Special Resins

In terms of special resin matrices, new thermosetting resins such as bismaleimide (BMI) resin, polyimide resin and benzoxazine resin have attracted much attention. Restricted by factors such as raw material synthesis and processing technology, there is still a large gap between the comprehensive performance of domestic special resin matrices and the international advanced level. Taking BMI resin as an example, there are certain gaps between domestic BMI resin and those from the United States, Japan and other countries in key indicators such as monomer purity, molecular weight distribution and thermal stability, and the batch stability needs to be improved.

2.3 Significant Development in the Manufacturing and Application Level of Composite Materials in China

2.3.1 Composite Material Technology

At present, China's high-performance composite material technology has entered a mature stage from the development stage, showing a development trend of multiple varieties, multiple specifications and multiple levels. In terms of material design, it has transformed from traditional "empirical design" to "simulation design" based on multi-scale analysis, and the mechanical properties, process performance and environmental adaptability of composite materials have been significantly improved. In terms of preparation technology, it has developed from hand lay-up molding to automatic, intelligent directions such as automated fiber placement and hydraulic molding, and production efficiency has been greatly improved. Meanwhile, a series of original breakthroughs have been made in common key technology fields such as advanced fiber preform preparation, interface control and composite material recycling.

Benefiting from the progress of preparation technology, China's high-performance composite materials have begun to be applied on a large scale in many fields. Taking the aviation field as an example, when the domestic large aircraft C919 was launched, the proportion of composite materials used in the airframe structure was 12%, which increased to about 50% for the C929, and will be further improved in the future. In the wind power field, complete machine manufacturers represented by Dongfang Electric have successfully applied carbon fiber composite materials to manufacture key structural components, with a maximum single-unit capacity of 26MW. It is foreseeable that in the future, with the continuous maturity of preparation technology, the consumption of high-performance composite materials in aerospace, wind power, rail transit, new energy vehicles and other fields will continue to expand, which will play an important role in accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and fostering strategic emerging industries.

2.3.2 Automated Manufacturing Technology of Composite Materials

Automated and intelligent manufacturing is an important development direction of advanced composite materials. In recent years, domestic efforts have been continuously made in the field of advanced composite material molding process equipment such as automated fiber placement, autoclave molding and hydraulic molding, and the localization rate of key equipment has been significantly improved. Taking automated fiber placement as an example, various types of domestic automated fiber placement and tape laying equipment independently developed by units such as China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China have been successfully applied in the production of composite materials for key models such as the C919 and J-20. The maximum tape width can reach 300mm, the tape laying speed exceeds 30m/min, and the comprehensive performance has reached the international advanced level.

In process fields such as resin transfer molding and autoclave molding, key enterprises represented by Sinofibers Lianzhong and Tianjin Ruiwei have continuously increased R&D investment, developed various types of domestic complete sets of equipment, and the mass production capacity has been greatly improved. In 2020, the proportion of automated manufacturing of domestic composite material components has reached more than 60%. It is foreseeable that with the continuous expansion of downstream application demand, the level of automated and large-scale manufacturing of composite materials will be further improved, providing strong support for promoting the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry.

2.3.3 Structural-Functional Integrated Composite Material Technology

In recent years, structural-functional integrated composite materials, as a cutting-edge direction in the field of composite materials, have shown a strong development trend. Taking structural wave-absorbing composite materials as an example, by introducing wave-absorbing functional phases into structural materials, composite materials are endowed with electromagnetic functions, which can realize the organic unity of structural bearing and electromagnetic functions, and have broad application prospects in equipment stealth, electromagnetic protection and other aspects.

At present, units such as the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully developed graphene-modified epoxy resin wave-absorbing coatings, achieving excellent wave-absorbing performance of -12dB in the 8~18GHz frequency band. Meanwhile, important progress has also been made in ceramic matrix wave-absorbing composite materials, and lightweight, broadband and high-efficiency radar wave-absorbing materials have been developed, providing a material foundation for the development and application of a new generation of stealth equipment.

In the field of wave-transparent composite materials, key enterprises represented by AVIC Composite Corporation have successfully developed glass fiber reinforced plastic radomes, which have been applied on a large scale in a number of key aviation equipment. On this basis, a variety of new wave-transparent materials such as carbon fiber reinforced quartz glass composites and ceramic matrix composites have also begun to enter engineering applications. Overall, domestic new breakthroughs have been made in the low-cost preparation and batch stability control of key wave-transparent composite materials, laying a solid foundation for improving the performance of airborne radar systems.

In the field of heat-resistant and ablation-resistant composite materials, units affiliated to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation have successfully developed new carbon/carbon composites and ceramic matrix composites, which have passed ground test assessments and their comprehensive performance indicators meet the design requirements. In the field of low-smoke, low-toxic and flame-retardant composite materials, enterprises represented by Sinoma Science & Technology have continuously carried out the development and industrial application of low-halogen flame retardants, with continuous improvement in flame retardant efficiency, and achieved mass application in rail transit and other fields. It is foreseeable that with the increasingly prominent service demand in extreme environments, the R&D and application of high-performance heat-resistant, ablation-resistant, low-smoke and low-toxic flame-retardant composite materials will be further accelerated, promoting China's special composite materials to achieve new leaps.

It should be pointed out that although China has made positive progress in the field of structural-functional integrated composite materials, there are still many shortcomings and deficiencies in links such as basic research, applied research and engineering development. The main manifestations are the disconnection between basic research and applied research, the "last mile" problem in the transformation of scientific research achievements, insufficient multi-functional composite design and simulation analysis capabilities, lack of a multi-scale integrated design platform from fibers and matrices to composite materials, and lagging supporting capabilities such as process equipment and testing and evaluation, which hinder the

Time:2025-11-05      Number of Views:210
Aramid Honeycomb Material: Application, Supply and Demand, and Development Prospects

The honeycomb sandwich structure absorbing material based on honeycomb core material is an important structural absorbing material. It is mainly used in the field of radar stealth and consists of aramid honeycomb impregnated with absorbent and wave-transparent panels, possessing both excellent mechanical and wave-absorbing properties. For aramid honeycomb sandwich structure absorbing materials, their wave-absorbing performance mainly depends on the specifications and dimensions of the honeycomb itself as well as the impregnating adhesive system. Currently, such materials can achieve strong absorption in the frequency band of 0-18GHz.
 
II. Main Application Scenarios
 
1. Main Application Scenarios of Aramid Paper
 
Based on different functional applications, the downstream application fields of aramid paper mainly include electrical insulation (as insulating material) and honeycomb core material (as structural weight-reducing material).
 
Meta-aramid paper products are mainly used in the electrical insulation field, with a small amount applied in the honeycomb core material field. Transformers are currently the field with the largest consumption of aramid paper in China. Meanwhile, with the electrification of railways and large-scale construction of urban subways and light rails in China, higher requirements have been put forward for related equipment of high-speed trains, including high-power traction transformers.
 
Para-aramid paper products are mainly used in the honeycomb core material field. Compared with honeycomb core materials made of meta-aramid paper, those made of para-aramid paper have significantly improved comprehensive mechanical properties. Their strength is 5 times that of steel of the same quality, while their density is only one-fifth of steel. However, due to its high cost, it is generally used in honeycomb core material fields with high strength requirements.
 
2. Main Application Scenarios of Aramid Honeycomb Core Material
 
Aerospace Field: After being combined with panels to form a sandwich structure, aramid paper honeycomb core material can serve as one of the ideal structural forms and is widely used in the aerospace field. Its main application parts include flaps, ailerons, vertical tail leading edges, rudders, canards, fuselages, blades, radomes, antenna covers, wall panels, hatches, floors and other components, as well as large-rigidity and secondary load-bearing components of aircraft. As the preferred core material for composite honeycomb sandwich structures of aircraft, it can reduce the structural weight of the aircraft and achieve wave transparency, noise reduction and heat insulation of functional components. According to statistics, the domestic Z-9 helicopter has more than 280 Nomex honeycomb panels, covering about 80% of the entire aircraft area; the honeycomb panels of the U.S. F-111 fighter jet account for more than 90% of the total external area; the C919 uses a large number of honeycomb core materials in multiple parts to meet weight reduction needs, and the demand for aramid honeycomb core materials per aircraft is expected to be above 10 million yuan.
 
Shipbuilding Field: The honeycomb sandwich structure can not only reduce the weight of empty ships, improve the maneuverability and impact resistance of ships, but also greatly enhance their corrosion resistance and "stealth" capabilities. In recent years, navies of various countries have also used honeycomb sandwich materials in superstructures such as deck houses, bulkheads and aircraft canopies of surface ships to improve the overall performance of the ships. The U.S. Coast Guard cutters adopted Nomex honeycomb structures instead of asbestos panels, which not only reduced the cutter weight by more than 9 tons but also eliminated potential hazards caused by asbestos; the internal decoration of the Liaoning aircraft carrier uses more than 100,000 square meters of aramid panels, with a price of 1,500-2,000 yuan per square meter. It is understood that major research institutes of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation have begun to use aramid honeycomb panels for lightweight ship interior decoration projects.
 
Rail Transit Field: Aramid materials can effectively reduce the energy consumption and noise of high-speed trains and have been applied in parts such as side panels, roof panels, seats, partitions, luggage racks and sunroof panels of high-speed train carriages, reducing vehicle weight and increasing train speed. EMUs with a speed of more than 200 km/h require a large amount of aramid paper honeycomb materials. Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. recommends using aramid honeycomb materials as the sandwich structure material for high-speed trains in its CRH-5 EMUs, with an annual demand of 50,000 square meters for 10-15mm aramid honeycomb materials. In addition, new models such as standard EMUs, sleeper EMUs and new energy low-floor vehicles have also adopted aramid honeycomb structures in their interior design to meet the needs of lightweight and comfort.
 
In addition, aramid paper honeycomb core materials can also be used in the manufacture of wind turbine blades, marine yachts, racing boats, ski boards, RVs and other products.
 
III. Industry Supply and Demand Situation
 
1. Supply and Demand of Aramid Fibers
 
Currently, the global production capacity of aramid fibers is approximately 140,000-150,000 tons, of which more than 50,000 tons are meta-aramid fibers and 90,000-100,000 tons are para-aramid fibers. For meta-aramid fibers in China, about 60% are used in the relatively low-end industrial filtration field, and only about 10% are used in high-end insulation and honeycomb core material fields. For para-aramid fibers in China, 40% are used for optical fiber reinforcement; 20% for bulletproof protection, such as military bulletproof helmets and gloves; 20% for the automotive rubber industry; and 20% for composite materials.
 
2. Supply and Demand of Aramid Paper
 
Aramid Paper: Statistics show that the global nominal production capacity of aramid paper is about 20,000 tons/year, with an effective production capacity of approximately 12,000 tons/year; the global demand for aramid paper is about 10,000 tons/year, and the main market share is occupied by DuPont. According to data compiled by CITIC Securities Research Institute, global aramid paper is mainly used in electrical insulation and honeycomb core materials, accounting for 64% and 34% respectively. Compared with the global consumption structure, 90.76% of China's aramid paper demand in 2020 came from electrical insulation, while the consumption share of honeycomb structural materials and other composite materials was only 9.24%.
 
At present, the main domestic aramid paper manufacturer is Minshida. As the first domestic aramid paper manufacturer, Minshida currently ranks second in the global market share of aramid paper products, second only to DuPont of the United States.
 
3. Supply and Demand of Aramid Honeycomb Core Material
 
Based on the calculation that 100kg of aramid paper can be made into 3 cubic meters of honeycomb core material, the global theoretical production capacity of aramid honeycomb can reach 2.04 million cubic meters, and the theoretical production capacity of aramid honeycomb in the Chinese market can reach 240,000 cubic meters; the aramid honeycomb core material corresponding to the effective production capacity is approximately 54,000 cubic meters.
 
Currently, the main domestic manufacturer of aramid honeycomb core material is AVIC Composite. AVIC Composite's honeycomb production is mainly distributed in Beijing and Nantong. Among them, the large-size honeycomb production line in Nantong has internationally advanced levels and high automation; its products are mainly for the civil aircraft field, mainly for foreign trade customers such as Airbus, Boeing and Arqiva.
 
IV. Conclusion
 
In recent years, China has continuously increased policy support for aramid fiber materials and aramid paper. Especially in recent years, the rapid development of China's equipment manufacturing industry, such as high-speed trains, domestic aircraft manufacturing and aircraft carriers, has driven the development of aramid insulating paper and aramid paper honeycomb core materials.
 
With the increasing application fields of aramid paper, the aramid paper market is expected to have a good development prospect. According to third-party public data, China's aramid paper consumption has increased from 2,742 tons in 2017 to 4,215 tons in 2021, and the consumption volume of aramid paper in China is expected to reach 12,357 tons in 2028. The honeycomb structure is the best load-bearing structure in the aerospace field and will exist in the structural design of aircraft and spacecraft for a long time.
Time:2025-11-04      Number of Views:202