In the context of the 5G era, the development of the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) industry is booming

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP), also known as liquid crystal polymer, refers to a polymer compound that can exist in a liquid crystal phase under certain conditions. According to different molecular chain structures, liquid crystal polymers can be divided into two types: side chain liquid crystal polymers and main chain liquid crystal polymers. Liquid crystal polymer appears in the form of beige or white opaque solid powder. It has radiation resistance, thermal stability, corrosion resistance and other properties, and is widely used in the electronic and electrical fields.

According to the “China Liquid Crystal Polymer Industry Market In-depth Assessment and 2022-2027 Investment Feasibility Consultation Report released by the Industrial Research Center , with the advent of the 5G era, my country’s broadband mobile communication technology has put forward higher requirements for signal transmission equipment. Liquid crystal polymers have the advantages of low dielectric loss and strong material stability, and have been widely used in base stations and mobile phones. Against this background, my country has gradually become the world’s largest consumer of liquid crystal polymers, accounting for nearly 50% of the world’s total consumption.

Electronics and electrical products are the largest demand side for liquid crystal polymers, with demand accounting for as high as 70.0%. The surface assembly welding technology of capacitors, connectors, spools, printed circuit boards (PCBs), light-emitting diodes and other materials is widely used in liquid crystal polymers. my country’s printed circuit board industry started late, but it is developing rapidly and has a competitive advantage in the global market. According to statistics from the Electronic Copper Foil Materials Branch of the China Electrical Materials Association, the output value of my country’s printed circuit board industry will reach US$44.20 billion in 2021, accounting for nearly 50% of the global total output value. Strong market demand has driven the rapid development of my country’s liquid crystal polymer industry.

Liquid crystal polymers have excellent molding and processing properties, and preparation methods include blow molding, extrusion, solution casting, and injection molding. At present, the injection molding method is the main preparation method for liquid crystal polymers. The raw materials are placed in an injection machine, heated at high temperatures, molded and cooled using a special mold, and finally liquid crystal polymers are made through processes such as coating and drying. The equipment requirements for liquid crystal polymer processing and molding are not high, but temperature and injection pressure need to be strictly controlled.

Affected by factors such as high technical barriers to the industry, my country’s liquid crystal polymer market is monopolized by overseas companies, and the industry is highly concentrated. Sumitomo Chemical of Japan, Ticona Corporation of the United States, DuPont Company of the United States, and Polytechnic Group of Japan are world-renowned suppliers of liquid crystal polymer materials, occupying a large share of the Chinese market. In the fierce market competition, my country’s local liquid crystal polymer companies represented by Plitt continue to accumulate production experience, and the localization rate of products continues to increase.

Industry analysts said that in recent years, thanks to technological progress, the scale of my country’s liquid crystal polymer market has continued to expand. In the 5G era, , the liquid crystal polymer market has broad application prospects. As the demand in the downstream market continues to be released, domestic liquid crystal polymer materials will gain huge development space, and the increasing enthusiasm of local enterprises for research and development will accelerate the process of domestic substitution in the industry.