The domestic high-performance carbon fiber industry is undergoing a critical transition from 'laboratory samples' to 'scalable products'. A wet-spinning carbon fiber preparation technology, jointly completed by Zhongjian Technology, Donghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing Tech University, and Xi'an Furuita, recently passed the appraisal of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, with the overall technology recognized as reaching an international leading level. This is not a simple upgrade but a systematic solution to the bottleneck of traditional wet spinning.
Technological Breakthrough: From 'Speed-Defect Trade-off' to 'Performance and Efficiency'
Wet-spun carbon fiber is irreplaceable in high-end aerospace applications, but its industrial production has long faced a core contradiction—increasing spinning speed often introduces nano-scale defects, limiting mass production of ultra-high-performance products. The project team established a complete technical system: through narrow molecular weight distribution controllable synthesis and rapid solidification dual-diffusion control, precise control of precursor crystal grain size was achieved; a balance control mechanism between nano-defects and microcrystal size was established, and rapid homogeneous pre-oxidation and carbonization processes were developed, effectively suppressing the common 'skin-core structure' defect. The resulting carbon fiber achieved a tensile strength of 6600 MPa and a tensile modulus of 335 GPa, both core indicators ranking in the global first tier of high-performance fibers.
Equipment and Process: Autonomous Design Reduces Energy, Stable Operation Key
Another side of the breakthrough is equipment autonomy. The project team innovatively designed a large-channel external-heating pre-oxidation furnace and a multi-zone integrated carbonization furnace, achieving long-term stable operation while significantly reducing total energy consumption. This means that domestic carbon fiber not only meets performance standards but also has the basis to compete with international giants in production efficiency and cost control. For downstream aerospace buyers, stable capacity and controllable process parameters directly translate to reduced supply chain risks—less dependence on imports and more predictable delivery times and quality.
Industrialization: 5000-ton Annual Capacity, Patents and Standards Dual Protection
From lab to production line, the project has formed a stable annual production capacity of 5000 tons of wet-spun high-performance carbon fiber, with products achieving large-scale application in aerospace and other fields. The project has been granted 25 invention patents and 30 utility model patents, and participated in the formulation of one national standard. This 'patent + standard' combination not only protects core technology but also provides a reference framework for subsequent technology diffusion and scale replication. For the textile and chemical fiber industry, this means high-performance fiber is no longer a distant 'black technology' but a realistic option for supply chain planning.
Industry Impact: Accelerated Domestic Substitution of High-End Carbon Fiber, Enhanced Upstream-Downstream Collaboration
The significance of this technical appraisal goes far beyond the success of a single project. It marks that domestic wet-spun carbon fiber has achieved autonomous design in core processes and key equipment, capable of serving national core equipment strategic needs. For carbon fiber composite companies, prepreg manufacturers, and end users in the textile industry, this sends a clear signal: the supply capacity and quality stability of domestic high-performance carbon fiber have entered a stage of scalable trust. In the future, as capacity further expands, the application cost of carbon fiber in civil aviation, automotive lightweighting, and wind turbine blades is expected to gradually decrease, opening up broader market space.