In the United States California global industry analysts company recently released a on the long fiber reinforced thermoplastics ( LFT or LFRT ) integrated global report, it is estimated that in 2017 global LFT consumption will reach 313400 tons, its development mainly by the automotive industry for many purposes driven.
LFT is a relatively new technology, as the automobile industry of several kinds of metal parts of the ideal lightweight alternatives, are quickly gaining application. Today, LFT aggregates, the high fiber content of aggregates and on-line mixing in automotive and non-automotive applications provides attractive opportunities. In addition to the metal, LFT and glass fiber mat reinforced thermoplastics ( GMT ), short fiber reinforced engineering plastics and thermoplastic composite material and sheet, BMC thermosetting composite materials such as competition. Reinforced fiber length for fiber reinforced thermoplastic plastics mechanical performance have a great effect. In a variety of LFT, polypropylene matrix material possession for most share. On line production of glass fiber and polypropylene composite material by direct LFT technology provides excellent cost-effective.
The whole world LFT market development and the development of the automobile industry together. Recently, the small lightweight vehicle demand greatly increased the market opportunity. The thermoplastic material in a car in may use including seating systems, instrument panel, floor, front bumper, and a door assembly, the underbody cover. In the front assembly, dashboard, door assembly and component LFT is used instead of metal can reduce assembly costs.
The application of LFT originated in Europe, and later extended to other parts of the world. North American and European LFT forming technology with granular molding and forming two, Asian technology with granular molding. LFT vendors are Korean and Chinese high growth, low cost market built factory. It is the world's largest automobile manufacturing to Asian area in the recent economic recession continues to increase the amount of LFT. China until 2009 the amount of LFT is still low, but rapid growth, today has been listed as one of the most dynamic LFT application market.
As mentioned in the report, the European remains the single biggest market for LFT. Long-term since, the European industrial of thermoplastic composite material acceptance than other parts of the world, the reason is that the consciousness of environmental protection and legislation. With China's great development for the support of the Asia-Pacific area holds the second leading position, in 2017 will be about 11% of the average annual growth rate of strong composite. In the end application, automobile industry ranked the largest market, instrument panel, front end module and the underbody panel is some of the most common LFT application products.
