The usage accounts for over 90%, and carbon fiber composite materials are the preferred choice for creating eVTOL

Why are carbon fiber composite materials favored?

Carbon fiber is a type of microcrystalline graphite material fiber with a carbon content exceeding 90%, made from organic fibers (especially polyacrylonitrile fibers) through carbonization and graphitization treatment. Compared with traditional industrial metal materials such as titanium alloys, resin based carbon fibers perform better in terms of modulus and strength. Its strength design can reach or even exceed the level of high-strength steel. Carbon fiber is the main material for the eVTOL body structure, which has the characteristics of light weight, high strength, and resistance to fatigue and corrosion. Using carbon fiber composite materials to create eVTOL can help reduce the overall weight of the body by 30% -40%.
Analysts believe that eVTOL will be the absolute incremental market for carbon fiber composite materials in the coming years, and this lightweight material is mainly used for components such as frames, wings, and propellers. According to the design proposals released by leading domestic eVTOL manufacturers such as Yihang Intelligent, Xiaopeng Huitian, and Fengfei Aviation, the fuselage structure is all made of carbon fiber composite materials. Carbon fiber not only improves the performance and carrying capacity of eVTOL, but also improves its range.
It is reported that the demand for carbon fiber for a single eVTOL is between 100-400kg, which is expected to drive the demand for thousands of tons. At present, in the carbon fiber composite material market, resin based composites (CFRP) are the most common, accounting for more than 90% of the market share. In addition to aerospace, sports products are also widely used.
The carbon fiber product chain is divided into three stages, including upstream production equipment, raw silk production, midstream intermediate manufacturing, carbon fiber product production, and downstream market applications. The complete industrial chain covers all manufacturing processes from crude oil to terminal applications.
Domestic carbon fiber manufacturers are developing rapidly
The key to preparing high-performance carbon fibers lies in high-quality PAN precursor fibers, which are precursors of carbon fibers and belong to a core technology. Currently, the core technology of carbon fiber is still dominated by Japanese and American manufacturers. In terms of production capacity, Dongli from Japan ranks first.
According to statistical data, the current market share of Dongli in the global carbon fiber market is about 42%, with small fiber bundles accounting for 17% and large fiber bundles accounting for 25%. According to Dongli's 2023-2025 management strategy, carbon fiber is currently Dongli's third largest business, second only to fibers and textiles and high-performance chemicals, contributing 282 billion yen (2 billion US dollars). The company plans to further increase the scale of its carbon fiber business by 30% by 2025.
However, in recent years, domestic carbon fiber production capacity has also grown rapidly, with representative manufacturers such as Guangwei Composite, Zhongjian Technology, Jilin Chemical Fiber, Zhongfu Shenying, Shanghai Petrochemical, Jilin Carbon Valley, and Boyun New Materials emerging.
Guangwei Composite is a leading domestic enterprise in carbon fiber materials. Previously, Guangwei Composite stated on the investment platform that as the main supplier of carbon fiber, the company has a shelf style carbon fiber product system and professional matching capabilities for pre impregnated and composite components, which can meet the mechanical properties, functions, and economic goals and matching requirements of various low altitude aircraft for carbon fiber. For example, the company has T300 level that has passed the PCD airworthiness certification for large aircraft and has a mature production control and application system, T700S level that has been widely used in drones, and M40J level that may be used in some structures and is relatively more mature and stable in China. If there are special requirements, we also have more advanced T800 level and M55J level. Level available for selection.
Zhongjian Technology is also a leader in domestic carbon fiber materials. The ZT7 series carbon fibers produced in bulk by the company have a tensile modulus even higher than that of the international carbon fiber leading manufacturer, Japan Dongli. Zhongjian Technology's long-term card is located in the aerospace field, with internationally advanced material properties and significant advantages.
In addition, Jilin Chemical Fiber is a leading domestic manufacturer of viscose filament, creating a carbon fiber industry chain consisting of raw silk, carbon fiber, and composite materials; Zhongfu Shenying is a national high-tech enterprise that integrates the research and development, production, and sales of carbon fiber and its composite materials. It has a systematic mastery of T700, T800, M30, M35 thousand ton level technologies, as well as T1000 and M40 hundred ton level technologies; The main domestic manufacturers of carbon fiber equipment include robot equipment, photovoltaic equipment, construction equipment, light textile equipment, etc.
I believe that with the strong deployment of low altitude economy by various provinces and cities in China, the carbon fiber industry chain in the country will become more mature.

epilogue

Carbon fiber composite materials have become the preferred choice for creating eVTOL due to their lightweight, high strength, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, and other characteristics. With the increase of eVTOL market size, the domestic carbon fiber industry chain will usher in a huge market blue ocean.