**(1) Air Conditioning Foil**
Air conditioning foil is a specialized material used for manufacturing heat exchanger fins in air conditioners. In its early stages, plain foil (uncoated) was employed. To enhance surface properties, inorganic anti-corrosion coatings and hydrophilic organic coatings are applied before forming, resulting in **hydrophilic foil**. Hydrophilic foil accounts for 50% of all air conditioning foil, and its usage is expected to rise. Another type, **hydrophobic foil**, imparts water-repellent properties to fin surfaces, preventing condensation adherence. However, due to ongoing research challenges in improving defrosting performance, hydrophobic foil is rarely used in production.
Air conditioning foil typically ranges from **0.1mm to 0.15mm** in thickness. With technological advancements, there is a trend toward thinner foils, with Japan’s mainstream products now at **0.09mm**. In such ultra-thin states, the foil must exhibit excellent formability, uniform microstructure, minimal metallurgical defects, low anisotropy, high strength, good ductility, consistent thickness, and flatness. While specifications and alloys for air conditioning foil are relatively uniform—facilitating mass production—its market is highly seasonal. Manufacturers face sharp imbalances between peak-season shortages and off-season low demand.
Driven by robust market demand, China’s production capacity and technical expertise in air conditioning foil have advanced significantly. A diverse ecosystem of large, medium, and small enterprises has emerged, with leading companies like **North China Aluminum** and **Bohai Aluminum** achieving product quality on par with international standards. However, due to domestic overcapacity, market competition remains intense.
**(2) Cigarette Packaging Foil**
China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of cigarettes. With 146 major cigarette factories producing 34 million large cases annually, nearly all use aluminum foil for packaging: **30% vapor-deposited foil** and **70% rolled foil**, consuming **35,000 tons** of rolled foil annually. Growing health awareness and competition from imported cigarettes have slowed demand growth, though a slight increase is projected. Cigarette packaging foil accounts for **70% of China’s double-zero foil** consumption. While two to three domestic producers make high-quality cigarette foil comparable to international standards, overall product quality still lags behind global benchmarks.
**(3) Decorative Foil**
Decorative foil is used in **aluminum-plastic composites** for decoration, leveraging its excellent colorability and high light/heat reflectivity. It is widely applied in architecture, furniture design, and gift packaging. Its use in China’s construction sector began in the 1990s, spreading rapidly from major cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou nationwide. Demand surged for interior wall decor, furniture embellishment, and commercial space adornment.
Decorative foil offers advantages such as **thermal insulation, moisture resistance, soundproofing, fire retardancy, and easy cleaning**, alongside a luxurious appearance and ease of processing/installation. China’s architecture and interior design industries have embraced decorative foil enthusiastically. With ongoing construction growth and expanding applications, demand is expected to rise significantly. Additionally, decorative foil for gift packaging—already popular abroad—is gaining traction in China, promising strong future prospects.
*(Note: Translated strictly as requested, retaining all technical terms and contextual details without added interpretation.)*
