Weekly Updates on Composite Material Standardization (June 20-26)

1. SAMR Seeks Public Comments on Two Revised Technical Regulations, Including the "Safety Technical Regulations for Stationary Pressure Vessels (Revised Draft)"

In compliance with the requirements of the "Special Equipment Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," the Special Equipment Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently released the "Safety Technical Regulations for Stationary Pressure Vessels (Revised Draft)" and the "Safety Technical Regulations for Mobile Pressure Vessels (Revised Draft)," and is soliciting public comments. This revision specifically strengthens the technical requirements for non-metallic materials in the design, manufacturing, and inspection of pressure vessels, aiming to further enhance equipment safety and technical adaptability.

The revised draft proposes detailed provisions on key indicators for non-metallic materials, such as corrosion resistance, anti-aging performance, and strength standards, to ensure their safe application under complex conditions like high pressure and high temperature. The public can submit feedback before July 19, 2025, through the following channels:

For more details, please visit the SAMR website (http://www.samr.gov.cn) and navigate to the "Interaction - Survey Collection" section on the homepage.

Source: Special Equipment Bureau of SAMR, June 20, 2025

2. New National Energy Efficiency Standard for Household Refrigerators to Take Effect in June 2026

According to the SAMR website, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration) recently released the new national standard GB 12021.2—2025 "Limit Values of Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency Grades for Household Refrigerators," which will come into effect on June 1, 2026.

This standard, first formulated in 1989, is undergoing its fifth revision. The revised standard further expands its scope to cover motor-driven compressor household refrigerators and semiconductor refrigeration appliances with a volume of 60 liters or less. It raises the energy efficiency grade requirements and energy consumption limit thresholds for refrigerators, significantly reducing their energy consumption. It also introduces new requirements for volume utilization rates to standardize the effective volume of refrigerator products, encouraging enterprises to adopt high-performance, compact insulation materials. Additionally, it adds requirements for smart grid signal response capabilities to promote the intelligent and green development of refrigerators.

Modern refrigerators primarily use rigid polyurethane foam (PU Foam) as insulation material due to its low thermal conductivity (approximately 0.02–0.03 W/m·K), lightweight nature, and ability to tightly fill cabinet gaps through the foaming process, making it the industry standard. Traditional formulations used chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents, which have now been largely replaced by environmentally friendly cyclopentane or HFO blowing agents to reduce greenhouse effects. Some high-end refrigerators incorporate vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), which consist of porous silica with a vacuum core, offering an extremely low thermal conductivity of 0.004 W/m·K, significantly reducing thickness but at a higher cost and requiring protection against damage. Early materials like glass wool have been phased out due to their moisture absorption issues, while aerogels and bio-based materials (such as cellulose) are still in the experimental stage. Future trends focus on more environmentally friendly fluorine-free foaming technologies and efficient, thin insulation solutions to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.

Source: CCTV.com

3. Three International Standards in the Field of Electrical Energy Storage Released

On the 20th, it was learned from the SAMR that three international standards in the field of electrical energy storage, led by China, have been officially released and will come into effect immediately. The three standards are: "Electrical Energy Storage Systems - Part 2-3: Performance Testing of Electrical Energy Storage Systems in Operation," "Electrical Energy Storage Systems - Part 3-200: Design Principles for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems," and "Electrical Energy Storage Systems - Part 4-2: Environmental Impact Assessment of Battery Failures."

In the construction of a new power system dominated by new energy sources, electrical energy storage is a critical supporting technology for ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power grid, enhancing system flexibility and regulation capabilities, and promoting the consumption of new energy. It is of utmost importance for achieving the "dual carbon" goals and energy transition. According to a relevant official from the SAMR, these three international standards fully consider the application needs of electrical energy storage systems, clearly defining the performance indicator systems and evaluation methods for the operation of electrical energy storage systems, the fault and environmental impact assessment methods for battery systems, and the engineering examples and design requirements for electrochemical energy storage systems. They will serve as important references for global manufacturers, users, and third-party institutions in product development, engineering design, and system operation. Meanwhile, these international standards are also conducive to improving the overall technological level, standardization level, and product quality level of China's electrical energy storage industry, which is of great significance for enhancing its international competitiveness.

During the formulation of these three international standards, the role of material innovation in enhancing the performance of energy storage systems was taken into account. Taking composite materials as an example, their characteristics are highly compatible with the requirements emphasized in the standards, such as "environmental adaptability" and "safety design." For instance, the modular design concept proposed in the "Design Principles for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems" objectively provides a technical interface for the application of lightweight materials like composite materials.

Source: Guangming Daily

4. ASTM International Proposes New AI-Assisted Testing Standard

Recently, the Road and Paving Materials Committee (D04) of ASTM International is developing a new standard (WK95270) that proposes an AI-based dynamic modulus (E*) testing method for mixtures. Dynamic modulus testing is a crucial component in pavement design.

The WK95270 standard is being developed by the Subcommittee on Base/Mechanistic Testing (D04.26) under the D04 Committee.

ASTM member Richard Steger stated that this proposed standard is an improved version of the existing ASTM D8225 standard. The original standard determines the intermediate temperature cracking resistance index of asphalt mixtures through the indirect tensile cracking test. "In simple terms, generating test data for dynamic modulus is very difficult, whereas generating test data for the improved ASTM D8225 is relatively easier," explained Steger, who also serves as the head of the Asphalt Materials and Sustainability Platform. "AI and neural network technologies have established a bridge between the two methods."

Source: ASTM

This article is selected, compiled, and translated by the China Composites Industry Association to facilitate industry exchanges and is for non-commercial purposes. Due to limited information coverage, omissions are inevitable. Please forgive any inaccuracies and cite the source when quoting.