Sinopec Produces China ’ s First Batch of Large Tow Carbon Fiber
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China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation ( HKG : 0386 , “ Sinopec ”) has successfully produced China ’ s first batch of large tow carbon fiber at the company ’ s production base in Shanghai , making the company the first in the country and fourth in the world to possess large tow carbon fiber technology .
Sinopec ’ s production line has adopted its self-developed PAN ( polyacrylonitrile ) base large tow precursor and carbon fiber technologies . The project is being implemented in two phases and expects to be in full production in 2024 , projecting an annual production capacity of 24,000 tons of protofilament and 12,000 tons of large tow carbon fiber .
Large tow carbon fiber refers to roving that contains 48,000 filaments or more . The high-performance material is often referred to as the “ king of new material ” and “ black gold .” The product developed and manufactured by Sinopec Shanghai is a new type of high-strength carbon fiber with a carbon content of over 95 percent . It has outstanding excellent mechanical properties and a specific gravity that ’ s less than one fourth of the steel , yet a strength that ’ s seven to nine times stronger . It is also corrosion resistant .
As the material can be widely used in producing parts and components , it is expected to be used for an increasing amount of industrial infrastructure projects in China , including ones related to wind power , solar power , high-speed rail , and aviation .
“ Sinopec has customized a special production line for large tow carbon fiber , including production equipment and techniques , which has enabled us to design oxidizing furnaces and carbide furnaces that revolutionizes not only the core technology of temperature field control , but also has a revolutionary energy-saving design , marking a major milestone in the development of China ’ s carbon fiber industry ,” said Huang Xiangyu , carbon fiber expert and deputy general manager of Sinopec Shanghai .
Sinopec now owns 251 patents related to carbon fiber and 46 patents for carbon fiber composite materials , the largest number in China and third in the world , and through scaled up investment and industrial layout , Sinopec is committed to being a major contributor to the development of China ’ s carbon fiber industry .
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