The partnership between the Chinese state-owned metals group and one of the country’s leading carbon fibre producers aims to strengthen the domestic supply chain and accelerate the development of carbon-ceramic composite applications for new energy vehicles and high-end equipment.

 

Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group, a state-owned metals and mining group, held discussions with Zhongfu Shenying, one of China’s leading carbon fibre manufacturers. The meeting culminated in a cooperation agreement between the group’s subsidiary, Shaanxi Nonferrous Carbon-Ceramic Composites, and Zhongfu Shenying.

 

The agreement provides for collaboration across several areas, including product research and development, application development and market expansion. Wu Qunying, chairman of Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group, Wang Gang, chairman of Shaanxi Nonferrous Carbon-Ceramic Composites, and Zhang Jian, chairman of Zhongfu Shenying, attended the signing ceremony, alongside Li Wei, deputy general manager of Zhongfu Shenying.

 

Shaanxi Nonferrous Carbon-Ceramic Composites, a major state-owned enterprise under the Shaanxi provincial government, is active in the development of carbon-ceramic composite products, including brake discs for passenger cars, civil aircraft, drones and high-speed trains.

 

Wu Qunying, chairman of Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group, described Zhongfu Shenying as a leading player in the carbon fibre industry, highlighting the potential for the two companies to combine their respective strengths to improve material performance and broaden the range of applications for carbon fibre composites.

 

Zhang Jian, Zhang Jian, chairman of Zhongfu Shenying, for her part, highlighted Zhongfu Shenying’s comprehensive carbon fibre product portfolio and extensive manufacturing capabilities. She said the partnership would help translate technological advances in carbon-ceramic composites into industrial applications.

 

With their shared state-owned background, aligned strategic priorities and complementary interests, the agreement also reflects broader efforts by central and local state-owned enterprises to strengthen upstream and downstream cooperation and improve supply chain resilience in China’s advanced materials sector.

 

Integrating carbon fibre and carbon-ceramic technologies

 

Both carbon fibre and carbon-ceramic composites are regarded as strategically important materials in China’s industrial development plans. Compared with conventional cast-iron brake discs, carbon-ceramic alternatives can offer weight savings of more than 60%, according to Zhongfu Shenying, while providing excellent resistance to thermal fade under demanding braking conditions. Their lower weight can also contribute to extending the driving range of new energy vehicles.

 

As the principal reinforcing material in carbon-ceramic brake discs, specialised carbon fibre plays a crucial role in determining the performance and reliability of the finished component. Zhongfu Shenying’s carbon fibre technology is expected to contribute to improving product performance while helping to reduce overall manufacturing costs.

 

By bringing together carbon fibre production, carbon-ceramic composite manufacturing and downstream braking applications, the partnership aims to establish a more integrated industrial value chain. This could provide a stronger domestic supply base for the lightweighting requirements of new energy vehicles and high-end equipment.

 

From carbon fibre raw materials to finished carbon-ceramic brake discs, the two companies intend to explore new applications across both the automotive sector and high-end industrial equipment.

 

Drawing on its experience in high-performance carbon fibre products for demanding sectors such as aerospace, Zhongfu Shenying aims to extend its reach into the carbon-ceramic brake market. Potential applications include braking systems for passenger and commercial vehicles, as well as components designed for specialised operating environments. Its contribution is expected to provide a reliable supply of critical raw materials for these increasingly demanding applications.

 

China has already made significant progress in bringing carbon-ceramic braking technology into domestic vehicle production. In October 2023, KBC, a Chinese specialist in carbon-ceramic composite materials and products, became a core supplier to the GAC Aion Hyper SSR. The project marked KBC’s first mass-production programme for carbon-ceramic brake discs and was presented as a first for a Chinese production vehicle. It represented an important milestone in the development of China’s domestic carbon-ceramic brake supply chain, which had previously relied heavily on imported products for high-end applications.

 

The new agreement between Shaanxi Nonferrous Carbon-Ceramic Composites and Zhongfu Shenying represents another step towards strengthening China’s capabilities in this strategically important materials segment.

 

Compiled from ：JEC Events