PMI Closed-Cell Foam Profiles: China's High-Performance Structural Core Material
PMI foam was first invented in 1961 by Dr. Schröder in Germany. Its closed-cell structure effectively overcomes common drawbacks like moisture absorption and significant differences in longitudinal and transverse properties, enabling its initial application as a sandwich core material.
In 1971, Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) pioneered the use of PMI foam in the rotor blades of its EC120 Colibri light helicopter, extending blade service life by over 1,000 flight hours.
Today, PMI foam remains the strongest and stiffest heat-resistant structural foam available. Its excellent compatibility with various resins and ability to withstand diverse processing environments have led to its widespread adoption.
Carbon fiber composites utilizing PMI foam as the core material offer significant advantages, including light weight, high flexural strength, superior heat resistance, and excellent impact resistance.
The aerospace industry continues to be a major downstream sector for PMI foam, accounting for approximately 80% of its global application. Transportation follows at about 15%. Furthermore, its use has expanded into sports equipment, wind power generation, and medical devices.
Currently, Evonik Industries of Germany maintains a dominant position in the global PMI foam supply market. Only a limited number of manufacturers in China have achieved domestic production capabilities.
Recent rapid development in the defense industry and the low-altitude economy has fueled strong demand for lightweight composite materials in applications such as fighter jets and UAVs. This presents significant growth opportunities for domestic manufacturers.
Historically, methacrylonitrile (MAN), the primary raw material for PMI foam, has been monopolized by foreign suppliers. Within China, Yangsen Advanced Materials currently provides the most stable and highest-quality MAN production. In collaboration with Xuntian Technology, Yangsen has developed a low-temperature catalytic dehydration process that meets stringent product quality standards of 99.5% and 99.9% purity.
