Studies suggest an enormous rise in the trend of using the innovative materials in the Asian industries. The growth of these materials has been spectacular, for they have shown a remarkable increase of over 20 percent in just the last five years, and this is all changing the way products are developed. From the composites to bio-based polymers, Asian industries have been adopting an array of new materials, which include the enhancement of the products and sustainability. This tendency indicates that the companies move to greener solutions, with more than 60 percent of manufacturers who consider sustainability their main criteria when choosing the raw materials. This sort of projects ensures the competitive edge and is in line with emerging consumer taste for greener and socially responsible products. Innovative materials are now the fuel for a renaissance wave that is sweeping across the Asian manufacturing scenes.
The list of key factors in this evolution is endless, but the impact of the strategic innovation of new materials plays a leading role. Innovative materials present three such marvels which are transforming the product development across the industries in Asia.
Graphene: Enhancing Product Performance
The hollowed spiral of carbon atoms, the hexagonal lattice arrangement has become a sensational phenomenon for its almost unbelievable qualities. Graphene is one of the strongest and the most flexible materials in the world, with conductivity that is unmatched, hence this material is not just a material, but a tool that can be used to make electronics and healthcare products. In the Asian manufacturing sector, graphene is used to produce next generation batteries, conductive inks for flexible electronics, and even advanced composites for aerospace and automotive components. The advantage of graphene as a material which can increase the performance and endurance of products while making them lighter makes it an important part of the innovation process in multiple sectors.
Last year, in 2023, Petronas, a Malaysian energy company, unveiled a new technology using graphene to fight corrosion. They have designed this technology which is an add on for paint that is used on steel structures. It has been proven to improve the adverse weather effect on coating and provide protection against assets from corrosion. The formulation shows three times better water barriers than normal epoxy paint and gives the paint a better adhesion, scuff and UV resistance. Also, it has shown three times the capability of abrasion resistance as the epoxy paints (traditional formulation).
“Graphene and other 2D materials are ready to act as watershed moments that will make all the difference in the tech world,” said Simon Thomas, CEO and founder of Paragraf to the Guardian. This means that the energy consumption could be cut down at least by the half and the semiconductors would be the fastest they have ever been up until now.
Bioplastics: Pioneering Sustainability
The world has been going green since the sustainable solutions came into play. In this regard, bioplastics are one of the potential contenders to lead the way of eco-friendly materials. Unlike the single source of traditional plastic made from fossil fuels, bioplastics can be derived from renewable sources such as corn starch, sugar cane, and even algae. In Asia, where the concern of environment is inseparable with economic development, manufacturers are welcoming bioplastic for packaging, consumer goods, and even automotive applications. Bioplastics have a dual role of not only propelling product development but also creating a greener future for Asia's industries because they not only substitute fossil fuels but also mitigate plastic pollution.
In 2023, the Coca-Cola Company took a significant leap when they introduced their premier beverage bottle which was made entirely of 100% plant-based plastic (except for the cap and label). This milestone is achieved by utilizing technologies that are prepared for commercial scale and have been developed over a decade after the arrival of the recyclable PET plastic bottle containing up to 30% plant based materials.
"The bioplastics industry is one of the areas of our BCG strategy that we are seeking to attract investments in by using the biological diversity of Thailand as a provider of a sufficient amount of high-quality raw materials which are essential in the bioplastics industry,” according to the BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi.
Metal Matrix Composites: Redefining Material Solutions
As a result of the combining of the strength of metals and the lightweight properties of advanced composites, MMCs are an entirely different approach in material engineering. Composites of metals are made by filling the metal matrix with high strength fibers and particles to achieve superior mechanical properties and thermal stability. As the case with MMCs in Asian manufacturing, it has been found that this group of materials has extensive uses in aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries where there is a general demand for a combination of lightweight yet tough materials. Through the manufacturing of advanced steel grades which can be used in the production of the light vehicles and the electronics with improved performance, MMCs are setting new benchmarks in product design and manufacturing in Asia.
At Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Japan's pioneer, Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) are used for lighter and stronger products. It has used MMCs in the brakes of race cars, the aircraft parts as well as the electronics cooling. This innovation not only increases the fuel efficiency, aircraft performance, and device reliability but also reduces the harmful emissions into the atmosphere. MMCs are redefining the product development process in Asia, and among the frontrunners are China and South Korea in the manufacturing revolution.
Mark Occhionero, Senior Scientist at CPS, states that "The MMCs provide improved dependability for high-power modules in a compact form while at the same time having superior thermal dissipation and reduced stress from repeated on-off applications. Such benefits are applicable in a wide range of industries, with the MMCs being especially ideal for renewable energy applications requiring reliability."
The future of manufacturing will be crowned with a phenomenon of paradigm shift based on the developments in material science. The advanced composite generation could be creating new products with exceptional power-to-weight proportions, resulting in lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles and high-performance aerospace components. Nanotechnology can lead to self-repairing materials, which in turn reduces the amount of the waste and the need for constant replacements. Inventive materials of biocompatible and biodegradable nature from sustainable resources that might be a ground-breaking step in plastics utilization. Additive manufacturing, with its unique capacity to combine different materials in an on-demand manner, will provide new heights for personalized product functionalities and thus completely new design possibilities. The material science advancements in this field are the basis of new product designs, thus extending beyond the limits of what is possible.