Carbon fiber has more than a century of development, with Japan, the U.S. and Germany at the core of the industry. China's carbon fiber sector, after a bumpy start, has only recently gained traction in the last decade. Those who follow the industry know that carbon fiber has great potential in aerospace, rail, medicine, sports, and new energy. But what other sectors will take advantage of carbon fiber?
Forecasts suggest that global carbon fiber demand will grow at about 2.6% per year, due to a slow recovery in the aerospace market and a slowdown in the wind power market by 2022. However, carbon fiber is poised for significant growth in three key areas: urban air transportation, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells.
Urban air mobility: Urban population growth leads to traffic congestion and increased demand for alternative transportation. Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicles (eVTOLs) or air taxis, as future modes of transportation, will rely heavily on carbon fiber reinforced plastic parts for their structure and internal components.
Hydrogen storage pressure vessels: Global decarbonization efforts are driving demand for hydrogen-based fuels. Hydrogen storage tanks serve multiple purposes in transportation (cars, trucks, rail, aerospace), distribution (mobile pipelines) and fueling stations. These tanks are increasingly used in the automotive and aerospace industries. Carbon fiber composites are ideal for manufacturing Type IV and Type V pressure vessels. However, the high cost of carbon fiber is a challenge, especially with the growing demand for hydrogen tanks.
Fuel Cells: Growing demand for portable devices and interest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in developing countries are driving demand for fuel cells. Carbon fiber composites are used for key components of fuel cell stacks. Parts such as bipolar plates and gas diffusion layers are often made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which reduces system weight and part count while increasing mechanical strength and corrosion resistance.
