'It can be very soft, it can be very hard, it can also be semi-soft semi-hard; it can also be soundproofed, insulated and deformed. The versatility and flexibility of polyurethanes give material scientists a lot of room for imagination and creativity. Grafting, it was impossible to make it possible. On the afternoon of the 25th, during the Beijing International Auto Show in 2018, Ms. Yu Yu, the commercial director of the Dow Polyurethanes Business Department of the United States, shared with the participating experts for the media of the industry and the public. A rare popular science class.
Polyurethanes have high mechanical strength, high flexibility and resiliency, good oil resistance, solvent resistance and water resistance, and are used in a wide range of applications. The related innovative technologies will directly affect the environmental protection, durability and comfort of the products. Insulation and other properties.
Consumption upgrade, polyurethane manufacturers are very keen
Trends in many areas of the consumer market will be fed back to manufacturers of polyurethane products. In Dow, polyurethane brand products cover as many as 166 applications, more than 4,600 single products, and have more than 4,000 customers worldwide.
Such a wide range of applications, all aspects of the economic pulse, we can feel. 'For example, a customer of Dow said that each year can feel ahead of 'double eleven' approach, because of the use of polyurethane materials Manufacturers of pillows, mattresses, etc., began actively stocking, securing stocks, sprinting for 'double eleven'; another customer said that before the onset of Halloween every year, orders for pumpkin lamps made from polyurethanes will surge.
'Consumer upgrading is an opportunity for innovation. Asia-Pacific polyurethane currently has a total demand of about 7 million tons per year. Dow and other giants of chemical materials jointly lead a new round of consumer upgrades with innovation and technology.' said Zhang Ping, head of research and development. .
Considering that polyurethane is a liquid, transportation costs are high and inconvenient. Localization is the winning core of global polyurethane companies. 'Only production, R&D, marketing and services are localized in order to win in the market. Dow Polyurethanes has 40 globally. Several production bases and more than a dozen application development laboratories. At the end of June of this year, the company's investment in Zhangjiagang will begin. The future Dow will pay more attention to basic research and development in the field of polyurethane and its modified polymers. Market positioning and services to achieve the eternal theme of 'innovation for you' (final consumer).' Yu Yu said.
Automotive Industry, Polyurethanes have a promising future
As a transformer in the material world, the use of polyurethanes in automobiles is also very important. The amount of polyurethane foam used in a family car ranges from 15 kg to 18 kg. In addition, there are many special shaped connectors and light weight requirements. Structures and other products, also use polyurethane materials.
Taking North America as an example, Dow’s material products for high-end cars cost an average of several hundred dollars per vehicle. However, the experience value of home users who use vehicles in the end cannot be calculated in terms of money.
With the sustained economic and social development in China, the number of car ownership continues to grow at a rapid rate. At the same time, consumers' expectations are constantly rising for the comfort, safety and environmental protection of cars. The standards of government departments are also becoming increasingly stringent.
For example, in terms of odor standards, China’s requirements are almost rigorous. In the interactive discussion, one example has led to ridicule—in order to sell a good price in the used car market in Europe, the “smell of new cars” is often marked in advertising language, and this In China, it is precisely the experience that most consumers cannot tolerate.
Experts pointed out that in fact, in addition to polyurethane materials, fibers, paints, leather, viscose and other materials will evaporate certain odors. In pursuit of 'low VOC (volatile organic compounds)' materials, researchers at Dow Shanghai R&D Center and Teams from other developed countries, together, are constantly challenging the limits.
In addition, new trends such as noise reduction and noise reduction and lightweight metal replacement also gave rise to a series of technical innovations in the automotive industry. For example, the new Audi A8's rear enclosure structure at the auto show used Dow epoxy. Composite materials system, after being mixed with carbon fiber, its stiffness, strength, corrosion resistance, environmental protection and recyclability, especially the speed of stripping production is half the time saving of the industry.
With the automotive industry ushering in great changes in new energy, autopilot and car networking, polyurethane materials will also usher in more room for development.
For example, new energy car batteries occupy a larger space, the design of seats will be thinner, but the comfort cannot be reduced. Therefore, new challenges are posed for material design; the auto-pilot car trunk is a mobile 'supercomputer', How to ensure heat dissipation, moisture barrier, shock absorption and stability are all topics that the polyurethane industry needs to address, etc.
Industry observers believe that in the next 5 to 10 years, it will be a window period for the transformation of China's auto industry, and material suppliers will provide new opportunities for the transformation and upgrading of the auto industry.