LFT is the star of hope in the automotive composites industry. According to market reports from Principia Consulting, the global demand for LFT in 2004 was approximately 108 million kg (239 million pounds) and sales were $450 million. LFT can completely replace die castings, steel stamped metal parts and short glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite parts in the automotive, industrial and landscape turf industries, but the automotive industry is still the main application area of LFT. The components of the LFT used in automobiles mainly include: front end module frame, underbody guard plate, instrument panel skeleton, battery bracket, spare tire bin, outer cover, impact member and others. Overall, the market for LFT is expected to grow at an average rate of 18% from 2004 to 2009, with Asia's growth rate being the strongest at around 25%; Western and North America's growth rates are expected to reach 17% and 12%, respectively.
According to experts' statistics, GMT accounts for about 52% of the total LFT sales in the world, LFT-G accounts for about 32%, and LFT-D only accounts for 16%. With the continuous popularization and promotion of new materials, new processes and new technologies, experts predict that in addition to GMT, LFT sales will increase by 30% per year, and LFT-D will grow faster.
Domestic LFT-D From the current point of view, LFT-D products are not yet widely available in China. However, with the increasing awareness of LFT-D in the industry and the increasingly stringent requirements for energy saving and emission reduction in the automotive industry, the application of this technology in China will gradually increase.
The continuous long fiber reinforced thermoplastic automotive composite forming technology represented by LFT-D will be developed strongly, especially in the replacement of metal structural parts and semi-structural parts in the lightweight process of passenger cars!
