A first-class National Science and Technology Progress Award reveals the deep restructuring of polyester fiber, the 'industrial staple food'. On July 8, the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards were announced, with the project 'Key Technologies for Green and Intelligent Manufacturing of the Polyester Fiber Industry Chain' led by Tongkun Group and jointly completed by ten institutions including Donghua University winning the first prize. This is the first time the textile chemical fiber sector has achieved this top honor in the entire chain of general fiber technology.
The Industrial Background of the Technological Breakthrough
China's chemical fiber output accounts for 70% of the global total, with polyester fiber ranking first among all types. This scale means that any technological iteration is amplified by the sheer volume. The core of the project's self-controlled technology system lies in establishing a direct PTA-PET low-carbon manufacturing model, while simultaneously achieving full-process automation equipment upgrades and domestic substitution of DCS control systems.
Data shows the project has formed a complete independent intellectual property system including 76 authorized invention patents, 10 software copyrights, and 14 national and industry standards. The cumulative new sales revenue exceeds 200 billion RMB, with profits and taxes over 10 billion RMB and export earnings of 1.8 billion USD. These figures are underpinned by substantial reductions in industry energy consumption and defect rates. For buyers, this means supply chain stability and cost control capabilities will receive technological guarantees.
Dual Drive of Green and Intelligent Manufacturing
The engineering application of environmentally friendly titanium-based catalysts is a key breakthrough in the green manufacturing dimension. Traditional polyester production relies on antimony-based catalysts, while titanium-based catalysts not only reduce heavy metal pollution but also enable a low-carbon pathway throughout the product lifecycle. Concurrently, the development of crude oil-based chemical fiber oils and green oiling technologies further reduces chemical usage in production.
On the intelligent manufacturing front, the project established an integrated process and quality control system. The so-called 'one head, three tails' multi-point addition polymerization, spinning, and texturing modular digital linkage essentially creates a flexible manufacturing capability—allowing the same production line to switch between different specifications of differentiated polyester fiber products on demand. For downstream fabric and garment companies, this means small-batch, multi-variety customized supply becomes feasible, potentially alleviating inventory pressure.
Demonstration Effect of Industry-Academia Collaboration
As the project lead, Tongkun Group has been selected as one of the first batch of national 'Zero-Waste Enterprise' typical cases. More than 10 units in industrial bases in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang have promoted and implemented the related results. This cross-regional collaborative manufacturing model essentially provides a replicable upgrade blueprint for the industry.
Donghua University also received the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award at the same ceremony, reflecting the growing global influence of China's fiber disciplines. The long-term cooperation between Professor Elsa Reichmanis, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, and Donghua's State Key Laboratory for Advanced Fiber Materials has yielded 18 high-level papers and the training of several national-level talents. This holds indirect but significant strategic value for domestic companies in accessing international cutting-edge technical information and participating in global standard-setting.