A 5,000-ton/year dry-jet wet spinning precursor equipment line has passed expert appraisal, with overall technology reaching internationally advanced level, and two key metrics—DMSO recovery steam consumption and reactor temperature uniformity—recognized as globally leading. This is not merely a single company's technological breakthrough; it signals a shift in China's long-standing dependence on imported high-end precursor production equipment.
Background
Precursor is the core of carbon fiber performance, and its production equipment and process have long constrained domestic supply of high-end carbon fiber. The appraised project was jointly developed by Jinggong Technology, Zhejiang Huachuang Carbon Fiber Technology Co., Ltd. (provincial manufacturing innovation center operator), Donghua University, and Zhejiang University of Technology, after two years of intensive research. The achievement landed in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, marking a new phase of collaborative innovation in the Yangtze River Delta carbon fiber industry chain.
From a technical metrics perspective, the equipment achieves multiple innovations: a 60 m³ large-capacity polymerization reactor with temperature uniformity of ±0.4°C, solving heat transfer lag and local mixing issues in high-viscosity systems; high-viscosity PAN dope pressure deviation controlled within ±1% at the outlet, with spinneret pressure fluctuation as low as 1‰; coagulation bath temperature stabilized at 5°C±0.2°C; process speed reaching 280 m/min; and annual single-line capacity of 5,000 tons. Behind these figures lie systematic optimizations in stirring structure, heat exchange systems, pressure distribution, and coagulation bath control.
Industrial Impact
For downstream carbon fiber manufacturers, this equipment delivers dual benefits of capacity and quality. A process speed of 280 m/min means higher production efficiency, while temperature control accuracy of ±0.4°C and pressure fluctuation of 1‰ directly affect precursor performance consistency—the most critical indicator for high-end applications such as aerospace and wind turbine blades. In other words, buyers who previously relied on imported equipment to achieve required process windows now have a domestic alternative.
More notable is the DMSO recovery segment. Recovery rate of no less than 99.5%, steam consumption no higher than 2.2 t/t, purity of 99.88%, and residual solvent in wastewater below 100 ppm—these metrics not only reduce production costs but also ease environmental compliance. Against the backdrop of carbon fiber capacity expansion and tightening environmental regulations, solvent recovery efficiency is becoming a watershed for precursor line economics. For companies planning new lines or upgrades, this process means lower comprehensive energy consumption per ton of carbon fiber and shorter environmental approval cycles.
From an industrial security perspective, localization of precursor equipment directly impacts carbon fiber supply chain resilience. Historically, high-end precursor equipment relied on imports, entailing long procurement lead times, high maintenance costs, and risk of technology restrictions. This appraisal indicates that domestic capability now exists for building 5,000-ton dry-jet wet spinning precursor lines, paving the way for localization of 10,000-ton lines. Combined with public data from the National Bureau of Statistics, domestic carbon fiber demand continues to grow, yet a gap remains in high-end precursor supply; this breakthrough is expected to accelerate import substitution.