Composite material is defined by two or more than two kinds of different substances in different ways, which is formed by the combination of materials, it can play the advantages of various materials, to overcome the single material defects, expand the scope of application of materials. Because of the composite material has the advantages of light weight, high strength, easy processing, good elasticity, resistance to chemical corrosion and weather resistance and good characteristics, has gradually replaced the wood and metal alloy, widely used in aerospace, automotive, electrical, construction, fitness equipment and other fields, in recent years is the rapid development of.
With the development of science and technology, resin and glass fiber in technical progress, the production ability rises generally, the glass fiber reinforced composite material price cost has been many industry accepted, but the glass fibre reinforced composite material strength is not enough and the metal. Therefore, carbon fiber, boron fiber reinforced composite materials have come out in succession, make the polymer composite family is more complete, has become a large industry the necessary materials. At present the whole world composite annual output reached about 5500000 tons, annual output value of more than $130000000000, if Europe, United States military aerospace high value products included, its output will be more amazing. From a global perspective, the world production of composite material is mainly concentrated in Europe and the United States and East asia. In last few years in Europe and America composite material production and demand will continue to grow, while Asian Japan because of the economic downturn, progress is relatively slow, but China especially in China the rapid development of the market. According to the world main composite manufacturer PPG company statistics, the 2000 European composite global share of about 32%, the annual output of about 2000000 tons. At the same time, the United States of America composites in nineteen ninties average annual growth rate of about 2 times the growth rate of the United States of America GDP, reached 4% ~ 6%. In 2000, the United States of America composites with annual production of 1700000 tons. Especially the automotive composite material rapidly increased the American car in the global market to rise. Asia in recent years the development of composite material and political economy of whole country is closely related to the change, the share of big changes. Overall, Asian composite materials will continue to grow, the 2000 total output is 1450000 tons about 2005, predict total output will amount to 1800000 tons.
From the application point of view, composite materials in the United States and Europe are mainly used in aerospace, automobile and other industries. In 2000 the United States auto parts of composite material dosage amounts to 148000 tons, the European automotive composite material to 2003 is estimated to reach 105000 tons. In Japan, composite materials mainly for residential construction, such as the bathroom equipment, these products in the 2000 amount amounts to 75000 tons, the domain such as the car consumption was only 24000 tons. But look from global limits, the automobile industry is the largest user of composite materials, the future development potential is very great, and there are many new technologies are under development. For example, in order to reduce the noise of the engine, increases the comfort of car, is to focus on the development of two layers of cold rolled plate adhesion of thermoplastic resin damping steel plate; in order to meet the engine to high speed, high load pressure, the needs of the developing direction of engine piston, connecting rod, bearing, has been used in metal matrix composites. In order to meet the requirements of automobile lightweight, will have more and more new composite materials will be applied to automobile manufacturing industry. At the same time, along with the recent years people on the increasing emphasis on environmental issues, polymer composite material to replace wood applications also got farther promotion. For example, with the plant fiber and waste plastic processing of composite materials, in North America has been heavily used as a tray and packing, used to replace wooden products; and degradable composite material at home and abroad has also become the focus of research and development.
In addition, nanotechnology has attracted people's attention, nano composite materials research and development has become a new hot spot. Nano modified plastics, can make the plastic state of aggregation and crystallization morphology changed, so have new properties, to overcome the traditional material rigidity and toughness incompatible contradictions at the same time, greatly improves the comprehensive performance of the material.