High-performance composite automotive interiors: No pollutants and corrosion resistance

Glass fiber composites are high-performance composite materials with the largest amount and the widest usage in resin-based composite materials. They are widely used in the automotive industry, rail transit, and wind power generation industries. The reporter recently learned from Chongqing International Composite Materials Co., Ltd. that the ECT glass fiber independently developed by the company has broken foreign monopoly and has entered foreign markets.

According to Jianming, who is the deputy chief of the company’s general workroom, “China is the world’s largest producer of fiberglass, with 2.88 million tons of production in 2012, which accounted for more than 60% of the world’s total production. In order to respond to market changes, we have undergone transformation and upgrades, independent research and development. ECT glass fiber reduces production costs while advancing technological advancements."

In 2008, the company successfully developed and produced a low-cost, environmentally friendly, high-performance glass fiber, ECT glass fiber. It is reported that the total production cost of the glass fiber is reduced by more than 10% compared with ordinary glass fiber. The flue gas produced in the production contains only nitrogen and carbon dioxide, no pollutants, and can be discharged directly. Its strength is more than 20% higher than ordinary glass fiber, and its corrosion resistance is improved by more than 10 times.

Dr. Han Lixiong, the company’s R&D engineer, said: “ECT glass fiber has a wide range of applications in the automotive industry, including interiors, instrument panels, etc. Parts made of ECT glass fiber are compared with parts made of steel. The strength is the same, but the ECT glass fiber product is 50% lighter."

“We are the first company in the country to produce ECT glass fiber first. Before we could only use the products of foreign companies, we broke the foreign monopoly and the price was reduced by about 20% compared with foreign products.” Han Lixiong stated that at present, basically all wind power Power generation blades use ECT fiberglass or similar products. The composite material made of ECT glass fiber has been widely used in high-end automobiles in foreign countries. It is an inevitable trend for Chinese automobiles to use a large amount of composite materials. In 2012, ECT glass fiber brought profits to the company by more than 100 million yuan. Last year, the company had established sales companies in Europe, Russia, North America, and Brazil, expanding new markets such as Brazil, Russia, and Central Asia.