The production of carbon fiber precursor has long been a bottleneck for China's high-end carbon fiber industry. In mid-August, in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, a 5,000-ton DMSO dry-jet wet-spinning PAN precursor equipment system, developed by Jinggong Technology together with Zhejiang Huachuang Carbon Fiber Technology Co., Ltd., Donghua University, and Zhejiang University of Technology, passed expert appraisal. The appraisal concluded that the overall technology has reached internationally advanced levels, with DMSO recovery steam consumption and polymerization reactor temperature uniformity achieving world-leading status. This marks a critical step for domestic precursor equipment from following to leading.
Technical Breakthroughs: Four Core Innovations
The project's core value lies in solving the engineering scale-up challenge of high-viscosity polymerization systems. The developed 60-cubic-meter large-capacity reactor uses special stirring and scraper synergistic reinforcement to enhance axial circulation and near-wall renewal, combined with a jacket hot water-coil cold water heat exchange system and multi-point temperature feedback control, achieving temperature uniformity of ±0.4°C. This precision is crucial for uniform molecular weight distribution, directly affecting the mechanical properties of final carbon fibers.
In the spinning stage, the team developed a multi-level symmetrical pressure distribution technology, achieving a terminal pressure deviation of ±1% under 60°C and about 1.6MPa, with spinneret pressure fluctuation as low as 1‰. A low-temperature coagulation bath control system stabilizes temperature at 5°C±0.2°C and liquid level at 3mm±0.1mm, while a multi-channel curved steam drawing device enables a draw ratio of over 3.5 times. These parameters support a process speed of 280m/min and an annual production capacity of 5,000 tons.
Solvent recovery is the economic and environmental lifeline of precursor production. The developed DMSO separation, classification, and refining technology achieves a recovery rate of no less than 99.5%, with steam consumption not exceeding 2.2t/t, recovered DMSO purity of 99.88%, and residual solvent in wastewater below 100ppm. This means significantly reduced production costs per ton and lower waste emissions, offering direct economic benefits to chemical fiber enterprises facing increasing environmental compliance pressure.
Additionally, the project built an MOM intelligent production management system and a central control visualization platform, enabling visualized production processes, traceable quality, manageable equipment, and controllable energy consumption. This marks a step toward digital and intelligent domestic precursor production lines.
Industrial Impact: A Turning Point from Dependence to Self-Reliance
For a long time, PAN-based precursor equipment and processes have constrained China's autonomous supply in high-end carbon fiber. The quality of precursor directly determines carbon fiber performance, and high-end equipment has long relied on imports, leaving domestic carbon fiber enterprises passive in capacity expansion and cost control. The appraisal of this 5,000-ton production line is not just a breakthrough in a single equipment set; it signifies the completion of a key link in the domestic carbon fiber industry chain. For downstream carbon fiber producers, this means lower equipment procurement costs, shorter delivery cycles, and no longer being constrained by overseas suppliers for technical services and spare parts.
From an industrial belt perspective, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, as a major domestic chemical fiber hub, will further consolidate its position in new material equipment. Jinggong Technology, as a leading local equipment manufacturer, has formed a typical industry-university-research collaborative innovation model with universities and a provincial manufacturing innovation center. This model accelerates the transformation of technology from lab to factory and provides replicable experience for other high-end textile equipment fields.
For buyers, this technological breakthrough not only brings more equipment choices but also enhanced bargaining power. Previously, domestic carbon fiber enterprises often faced 'technology black boxes' and high patent fees from foreign suppliers. Now, with domestic equipment achieving world-leading key indicators, buyers can use this as a bargaining chip to pressure international suppliers to adjust prices and service terms. Meanwhile, the local service advantage of domestic equipment can significantly reduce operation and maintenance costs.
However, it is important to recognize that there is still a distance from equipment passing appraisal to large-scale commercial application. The 5,000-ton line is just a starting point; whether it can operate stably and achieve international yield levels still requires time and market verification. Carbon fiber precursor production demands extremely high process stability, and any minor fluctuation can lead to fiber breakage or performance variation. Therefore, downstream enterprises should still exercise caution when purchasing.