Sinofibers opens 5000-MT capacity for T1100-grade carbon fiber production
Sinofibers has achieved a 5000 MT annual production capacity for T1100-grade carbon fiber using wet spinning, with a tensile strength of 6600 MPa for aerospace applications.
Sinofibers Technology Co. Ltd. (Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China) has successfully established a stable production capacity of 5,000 metric tons per year for T1100-grade carbon fiber through its wet spinning high-performance carbon fiber project. The T1100-grade fibers achieve a tensile strength of 6,600 megapascals and a tensile modulus of 335 gigapascals, marking a significant advancement in carbon fiber production capabilities.
The project emphasizes the use of a wet spinning process for producing high-performance carbon fibers. Unlike the more common dry-jet wet spinning method, Sinofibers has demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale production using the technically demanding wet spinning route. This development is supported by several key technologies.
Sinofibers has developed controlled synthesis of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor with a narrow molecular weight distribution, a dual-diffusion regulation mechanism for rapid coagulation and fiber formation, and optimized pre-oxidation and carbonization processes. These innovations are designed to enhance the microstructure of the precursor, thereby improving the overall quality of the carbon fibers.
In addition to process innovations, Sinofibers has created proprietary production equipment, including an externally heated pre-oxidation furnace and an integrated multi-zone carbonization furnace. This equipment is designed to improve temperature uniformity, enable continuous production, and reduce energy consumption.
The project, in collaboration with Donghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Nanjing Tech University, and Xi'an FuruiDa, has resulted in 25 invention patents, 30 utility model patents, and participation in the development of one national standard. Sinofibers claims that the T1100-grade carbon fiber offers a tensile strength approximately 8-10 times greater than conventional steel while weighing about a quarter as much. Applications for this material include aerospace, new energy vehicles, offshore wind power, low-altitude aircraft, industrial robots, and high-performance sporting goods.
Source: Carbon Fiber Feed