JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #41 - June 2008 - 21

industry, cross-country water pipelines, sewerage pipelines, and more. They are also used to manufacture cooling towers that will resist corrosion due to moisture. The table summarises the present consumption of composites along with their future growth potential in the aforesaid sectors (table 2). In the early 80s, the Indian railway sector identified composites as a potential material for many passenger coach components, such as louvres and glass shutters, window sills and frames, battery box trays, roof ceilings, flooring, etc. The aim was to completely eliminate timber and plywood in coaches. The present consumption of composite materials in Indian railways has been estimated at about 8,000 tons, with a 20% annual growth rate. The automotive industry is another sector where composite materials have been used significantly, especially in passenger cars, scooters and helmets. The growth rate of composites in the automotive sector has been as follows (see table 3). Tab. 3: Composites in the automobile sector capacity can produce roughly 100,000 MW of power in India. The present overall consumption of composites has been estimated at around 110,000 tons per annum, as summarized in table 4. New business opportunities The wind energy: a booming market and low cost. The marine market for composites was around 1,000 tons per annum in 2006 and is expected to grow to 3,000 tons by 2010, with applications in leisure boats, houseboats and speedboats, among others. India has also made tremendous progress in the wind-power sector, where composite consumption has exceeded that of China and Japan, and now ranks as the fourth largest wind-power producer in the world. M/s. Suzlon Energy Ltd., Pune, has emerged as a leading supplier of wind turbines in the global market. It is estimated that using only small wind turbines of 10 to 500 KW S.No. 1 2 Segment Growth rate Passenger car Scooter Helmets for twowheelers Total (tons) 9% 5% 7.085 5.800 7.722 6.174 8.420 6.483 14% 7.695 8.772 10.000 With the gradual introduction of modern technology, the Indian composite market has been growing rapidly with newer products manufactured. A market analysis reveals that, although many small fabricators are using hand lay-up methods for manufacturing composite products, the use of advanced computer-controlled equipment such as filament winding systems, pultrusion, RTM and other equipment is growing rapidly. There is a huge potential for use of composites in the Indian automotive industry, especially for catering to the transportation needs of the growing middle class. There would be a good market for hoods, shock absorbers, frames, and cargo containers that could be used as part of these locally-built vehicles. New business opportunities also include air intake manifolds, thermoformed components for automotive applications, fishing boats, refrigerated freight containers, gas pressure vessels, motor-driven carts, storage light houses, walkways and piles for building foundations, RCC casting, shutters, leaf springs, etc. More information: www.tifac.org.in Source: TIFAC: Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council e-mail: manager@tifac.org.in All figures in '000 tons 20.695 22.672 24.903 Strong market potential In the oil and gas sector, composite materials have a vast application potential in high-pressure pipes and pipe fittings. Current offshore structural applications include low-pressure pipe, gratings, handrails, equipment covers or enclosures, and ladders. Because of their low weight, corrosion resistance, improved life-cycle costs and enhanced safety, composites could capture 50% of this market over the next 56 years. The use of composites in boatbuilding applications started in the early 1970s for replacing wood because of certain advantages such as corrosion resistance, ease of fabrication, improved performance Tab. 4: Consumption of composites S.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sector Wind energy Industrial Railways Automobile Oil & gas Building & construction Marine Total (in ‘000 tons) 15.79 26 8 20.69 1.5 35.00 1 107.98 20.27 7.695 9.60 22.67 1.6 39.50 1.4 124.14 25.96 32.59 11.52 24.9 1.7 44.65 1.8 143.12 33.20 36.51 13.82 26.3 1.8 48.92 2.30 162.85 42.46 40.92 16.59 28.1 1.9 55.40 3 188.37 No41 June 2008 / JEC Composites Magazine

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #41 - June 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #41 - June 2008