Have domestic chemical rubber additives mastered the core technology?
Chemical rubber additives are important functional additives that are indispensable to the rubber industry and are widely used in rubber products such as tires, seals, conveyor belts, shock absorbers, etc. It plays a key role in the vulcanization, anti-aging, wear resistance, and processability of rubber products. As an important part of fine chemicals, the position of chemical rubber additives in the global rubber industry chain is becoming increasingly prominent.
For a long time, the core technology of international rubber additives has been mainly controlled by a few multinational companies in Europe, the United States, and Japan. As the world's largest producer of rubber products, China's chemical rubber additive industry has risen rapidly in recent years, but the question of "whether to master the core technology" is still the focus of widespread attention in the industry. This article will conduct a comprehensive analysis of this.
1. Overview of the development of the domestic rubber additive industry
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of rubber additives. According to the "China Rubber Industry Yearbook" and industry association data:
The global annual output of rubber additives is about 1.6 million tons, and China's output exceeds 1.1 million tons, accounting for nearly 70%;
China has many rubber additive companies, typical representatives include: Yanggu Huatai, Shengao Chemical, Jiantao Chemical, Dongyangguang, Luxi Chemical, etc.;
Products cover more than 100 varieties such as antioxidants, accelerators, vulcanizers, tackifiers, activators, rubber dispersants, etc.
In terms of scale and quantity, China has become a veritable rubber additive production power.
2. What is the connotation of core technology?
The so-called "mastering core technology" does not only mean having large-scale production capacity or product types, but also having the following capabilities:
Independent key raw materials and intermediate synthesis technology;
Independent innovative new additive molecular design and structure development capabilities;
Efficient, green, and clean production processes;
Systematic additive compounding solutions and performance control capabilities;
Participating in or formulating industry technical standards. The dominant position.
The measurement of whether or not to have core technology is ultimately reflected in the product's technical content, differentiation capabilities, international influence and patent layout.
III. Analysis of the mastery of core technologies of rubber additives in my country
1. Traditional additive products: Most of them have been domestically produced and have technical advantages
✔ Fields that have been mastered:
Accelerators (such as MBT, CBS, TBBS): Chinese companies have achieved large-scale low-cost production with stable product quality;
Antiaging agents (such as 6PPD, TMQ, RD): The domestic production rate of core products has exceeded 90%, and the technical process is mature;
Vulcanizers (such as insoluble sulfur IS): Have independent production capabilities and have export competitiveness;
Ultra-fast accelerators and synergists: Products such as TMTD, DPTT, ZDBC, etc. have been widely used in domestic and foreign tire companies.
✔Technical features:
Domestic companies have accumulated a lot of engineering experience in reaction route optimization, equipment integration, and raw material recycling;
Many companies have achieved industrialization in clean production processes, such as wastewater-free vulcanizers, low-VOC antioxidants, etc.
Conclusion: In the field of traditional rubber additives, China has not only achieved domestic substitution, but also has strong process and cost advantages, and has basically mastered the core production technology.
2. High-performance and environmentally friendly additives: Some technologies still rely on imports and are in the catching-up stage
✘Technology in key areas has not yet been fully broken through:
Green and environmentally friendly additives: such as nitrosamine-free accelerators, low aromatic antioxidants, etc., European and American companies still occupy the technical high ground;
Polymer enhancers: Additives used to improve wet grip and reduce rolling resistance (such as functionalized silanes) are still mainly dependent on imports;
Nanostructured dispersants and surfactants: Foreign countries are more mature in interface regulation and additive composite system design;
Customized compound additive system: Domestic companies often focus on monomer sales, while foreign giants such as LANXESS and Eastman can provide systematic solutions.
✘R&D platforms and original innovations are still insufficient:
The independent molecular design capabilities of high-end additives are insufficient, and most of them are in the "imitation-improvement-optimization" model;
The international patent layout and core formula of high-value-added additive products are monopolized by a few foreign-funded enterprises.
Conclusion: my country is still in the catching-up stage in the field of environmental protection, functional, and high-end rubber additive technology, and has not yet fully mastered the core technology.
4. The gap with the international advanced level
Indicators China is internationally advanced (such as Germany, Japan, and the United States)
Basic production capacity is relatively limited and specialized in the world
Process maturity has obvious cost advantages and high green environmental protection level
Original innovation ability is relatively weak, imitation is strong, and molecular innovation is emphasized
Product structure is dominated by traditional products and high-end products account for a large proportion
Standards and specifications are mainly followers and setters
Although the overall scale of China's rubber additive industry is leading in the world, there is still a significant gap with international giants in terms of original technology innovation, product diversification, environmental protection and system solution capabilities.
V. Technical advantages and progress of domestic enterprises
Despite the technological gap, Chinese rubber additive companies have shown strong development momentum in the following aspects in recent years:
1. Clean production technology innovation
Many companies have broken through the closed-loop production process of "no wastewater and low energy consumption";
Promote green solvent substitution and catalyst optimization to achieve safe and environmentally friendly production.
2. Gradually upgraded product structure
A number of companies have begun to launch new accelerators and environmentally friendly antioxidants that do not contain nitrosamines;
Develop differentiated products such as new isomerized sulfur and non-crystallizing antioxidants to meet the needs of special rubbers.
3. Overseas market expansion and international certification
Most mainstream companies have passed international certifications such as REACH, ROHS, ISO, and FDA;
Products are exported to more than 50 countries including the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
4. Technical cooperation and industry-university-research linkage
Co-build laboratories and postdoctoral workstations with scientific research institutions to promote structural modification and mechanism research;
In-depth collaboration with tire companies to carry out joint formula testing and industrial verification.
VI. Future development paths and suggestions
To achieve the transition from a "rubber additive power" to a "technological power", China's additive industry needs to continue to make efforts in the following directions:
1. Increase basic R&D investment
Establish a national-level fine chemical material innovation platform, focusing on molecular innovation and new material synthesis;
Promote the application of molecular simulation and AI modeling in additive development to increase the originality rate.
2. Break the technical barriers of high-end products
Focus on cutting-edge directions such as non-toxic, nitrosamine-free, and special additives for new energy tires;
Establish a high-end product patent pool to promote standard dominance and technology going overseas.
3. Improve the level of intelligent manufacturing
Promote continuous, automated, and green production lines to improve product consistency;
Build digital factories and lean manufacturing systems to improve the overall efficiency of the industry.
4. Build a global industrial chain and brand
Deepen overseas layout, set up technical service centers, and improve service capabilities;
Create a Chinese additive brand with international influence, and improve pricing power and voice.
VII. Conclusion: Localization has been completed, and core technologies are accelerating breakthroughs
In summary, China's chemical rubber additive industry has fully mastered core technologies in traditional product fields, has independent intellectual property rights and strong production capacity, and has a significant position in the global industrial chain. However, there are still certain technical gaps and innovation bottlenecks in high-end environmentally friendly additives, new functional additives, and customized system solutions.
In the future, with the coordinated promotion of industrial policies, market demand, technological progress, and international competition, domestic rubber additives are expected to move towards technological heights in an all-round way, truly realizing the leap from "manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing, from imitation to leadership".
