On May 24, CHINAPLAS 2019 International Rubber and Plastic Exhibition successfully concluded in Guangzhou Pazhou China Import and Export Commodity Fair and Exhibition Hall. For plastics and its applications, this annual industry event is not only a show, but also the best platform for perceiving future trends.

This exhibition is more distinctive than previous ones. It is not only the self-presentation of enterprises, but also the common exploration of downstream industry challenges and the discussion of corresponding solutions. Automobile is becoming more and more "smart". In line with the development of intelligent network interconnection, high-performance materials such as high-sensory, conductive and discoloration have attracted much attention. The era of 5G communication is coming. Modified plastics with low dielectric constant, antenna materials, thermal conductive materials and shielding materials are emerging. Recycling economy has been paid more and more attention, and recycled plastics and frontier design are widely favored... With the exhibition of a series of leading products and concepts, it seems to build a beautiful picture of the future world.

The hot trends of this rubber and plastic exhibition are as follows:

I. Automotive Materials

Automobile is the second home of consumers. The standard of buying a new car has been redefined. Apart from comfort, personalization, environmental protection and intelligence are all factors they may consider. The future development trend of automobiles has gradually become clear: lightweight, electric, intelligent, networking, sharing. These trends have brought a wave of technological change to the automotive industry, and also brought new opportunities and challenges to the industry.

Over the past few years, lightweight has taken up almost half of the R&D direction of major material manufacturers. At this rubber and plastic exhibition, for automotive applications, lightweight is no longer the main role, but with some other application trends. Intelligent surface interior decoration and high-tech environmental protection materials have attracted wide attention. In the automotive and aftermarket, the diversification of demand provides more room for more materials.

II. Solution of Shoe Material

At the last rubber and plastic exhibition, E-TPU was also a new material which appeared in everyone's vision, and its application in shoes was even more powerful. Nowadays, E-TPU has been fully commercialized in the field of footwear. Except for the improvement of its own technology, no breakthrough has been made by manufacturers. What we are more interested in is how to apply it to a wider range of fields, such as plastic runway, mattress, car seats. Of course, in addition to the application on the sole of sports shoes, there are also attempts on other parts. Basf showcases an Infinergy #E-TPU safety shoe sole, which effectively enhances comfort and alleviates fatigue. With the birth of many new midsole materials, we do not know how long the brilliance of E-TPU will last. Perhaps for E-TPU, it is not exclusive to shoes, but has a wider application space.
III. Medical Plastics Solutions

Biomedical industry is one of the new strategic industries in China. In recent years, governments around the country have introduced policies to attract and encourage enterprises to move forward. From the two-vote system, registrar system, medical device approval procedures, medical reform policies and financial incentives, domestic medical devices and innovative devices have been growing rapidly. However, compared with developed countries, there is still much room for the development of medical devices in China. Foreign medical plastics companies are also actively positioning the Chinese market, hoping to share a piece of the market under the huge demand. At this rubber and plastic exhibition, many medical plastic solutions have appeared.