Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-12-11 07:35Core Insights - China's air conditioning industry is accelerating the adoption of aluminum instead of copper due to rising copper prices, with a focus on establishing relevant standards to ensure the safety of this billion-dollar industry [2][3] Group 1: Industry Developments - The China Refrigeration Society has released a group standard for the construction of aluminum tube fin heat exchanger production lines for room air conditioners, with additional standards for aluminum heat exchanger raw material requirements and production line construction currently being developed [2] - A national standard related to "aluminum instead of copper" for room air conditioners is under revision, with major companies like Gree, Midea, Haier, and Xiaomi participating in the discussions [2][3] - The China Household Electrical Appliances Research Institute has expanded its research group on aluminum applications in air conditioning to 19 members, including leading air conditioning manufacturers and related material companies [2] Group 2: Technical Challenges and Proposals - The demand for copper in household air conditioning is significant, with 10.7% of China's copper consumption in 2023 attributed to this sector, amounting to approximately 1.723 million tons, with 80% of this copper being imported [3] - There are three main challenges in adopting aluminum heat exchangers: high corrosion resistance technology issues, lack of standardized testing methods, and consumer biases against aluminum [3][4] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has outlined a plan to support the development of aluminum applications in air conditioning and refrigeration, emphasizing the need for high corrosion resistance technology [4] Group 3: Industry Collaboration and Standards - Major air conditioning companies have signed a self-regulation agreement to promote aluminum heat exchangers, ensuring scientific communication about their benefits and preventing misleading claims [4] - The establishment of a standard system for aluminum heat exchangers is a priority, with a focus on addressing corrosion resistance and manufacturing capabilities [4]