Application and Development of Modified
      Polyolefins in the Domestic Automobile Industry
Jin Yan/Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry
In the years from 1985 to 1995  China  imported  production
technologies and production lines of Cherokee,   Daihafan,
Charade, Santana and Peugeot. In later years Audi,  Jetta,
Alto and Fukang came to  the  market.   A  new  vigor  was
therefore put in China's automobile industry.  The  output
of automobiles in the 5 years from 1991 to 1995 was  5. 97
million with an average annual growth rate of 23.3%, 2. 39
times higher than the growth rate during the Seventh  Five
-year Plan period. Of the total, the output of sedans was 1
.02 million, accounting for 85.3% of the total sedan output
after the founding of new China, the annual average growth
rate being 47.9%. However, China  started  the  automobile
industry rather late and there is still a considerable gap
compared with advanced countries. The per-sedan amount  of
plastics is 70 - 80 kg in China, accounting for 7 - 8%  of
the total car weight, but the proportion has reached 18  -
20% in the United States. Table  1  shows  the  amount  of
plastics used in sedans in China.
Based  on  the  requirements  in  the  development  of  the
automobile industry, the demand of plastics  will  be  395
000 tons in 2000 and 935 000 tons in 2010. Table  2  shows
the projection  of  the  demand  of  plastics  in  China's
automobile industry in 2000 and 2010.
Judging from the present amount of plastics in  sedans  and
the demand projection in China, modified polyolefins  will
  occupy  a  considerable  proportion.   To  localize   the
production of plastic components used  in  imported  cars,
develop materials used  in  the  automobile  industry  and
enhance the overall level of related auto material sectors
, some domestic research institutes  and  production  units
have put large amounts of human,  material  and  financial
resources in the production  of  auto  plastics.   As  the
consumption of modified PP holds the  greatest  proportion
in improved domestic cars and imported cars, the  research
and development is focused on polyolefins.
  The Chemical Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
and Changchun Research Institute of Applied Chemistry have
developed nearly 20 varieties of auto plastics,  including
EPDM modified PP, EPDM/talc/PP, glassfiber  reinforced  PP
and SBS modified PP. They are mainly used in Jetta,  Audi,
Iveco and Alto.
    Chengdu  Organosilicon  Research  Center  of  Chenguang
Research Institute of Chemical Industry,  Liming  Research
Institute  of  Chemical  Industry  and  Nantong  Synthetic
Material Experimental Plant have developed talc-filled  PP
for window lift and low-temperature reinforced PP for  air
filter. They are mainly used in Santana, Audi,   Golf  and
Citreon.
Yanshan Resin Research Institute of    China  Petrochemical
Corporation, Research Institute  of  Yangzi  Petrochemical
Corporation, Research Institute of Liaoyang  Petrochemical
Corporation and Plastic Plant  of  Shanghai  Petrochemical
Corporation have developed more than 10 varieties of  auto
plastics, including modified PP for door interior sheet in
Isuzu, modified PP for  steering  wheel  used  in  Beijing
Automobile Steering Wheel Factory,  and  modified  PP  for
storage battery cover, luggage compartment cover,   safety
bar, instrument panel, radiator grill  and  engine  cover.
They are mainly used in Iveco, Charade, Peugeot and Jinhuai.
Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry is  one  of
  the  first  units  to  start  the  research  of  modified
polyolefins, and has developed more than 20  varieties  of
special  materials  for  automobiles.   They  include  the
following:
-  Flame-retardant PP for color TV developed  in  1981  has
got the prize of excellent research achievement issued  by
the State Economic & Trade Commission.  It  is  the  first
flame-retardant material for color TV developed  in  China
and has obtained the UL certificate.
-  Modified PP APFS-121 for fan  guard  in  Beijing  jeeps
BJ/XJ213 has passed  the  appraisal  of  the  Ministry  of
Chemical Industry, and such fan guards have been installed
in 20 000 Beijing jeeps.
-  Modified PP APD-122  for  instrument  panel  in  Tianjin
Daihafan mini trucks  has  passed  the  appraisal  of  the
former Ministry of Chemical Industry, and such  instrument
panels have been installed in 40 000 Daihafan mini trucks.
-  Reinforced PP for fan blade in CA-141 trucks has passed
the appraisal of China Automobile Corporation,   and  such
fan blades have been installed in 10 000 CA-141 trucks.
-  Modified PP APB-121 for front and  rear  safety  bar  in
Charade sedans has passed  the  appraisal  of  the  former
Ministry of Chemical Industry, and such safety  bars  have
been installed in 250 000 Charade sedans.
-  Modified PP APB-123 for front and  rear  safety  bar  in
Santana sedans has  passed  the  appraisal  of  the  State
Planning Commission and the former  Ministry  of  Chemical
Industry, and such safety bars have been installed in  400
000 Santana sedans. The  material  has  a  world  advanced
level and has fully replaced the  material  imported  from
DSM of Holland. It is now produced in an integrated  plant
of Beijing Research Institute  of