High-performance fibers are a key part of the new materials industry. They are strategic materials for China's chemical fiber sector. Their development affects the national economy and strategic security. Over the past decades, with the support of the government, enterprises, research institutes, and industry associations, China has focused on critical technologies, expanded downstream applications, and promoted industry scale, technical progress, and system development. These efforts have narrowed the nearly 30-year gap with developed countries, achieving breakthroughs and notable results.

Currently, domestic carbon fiber accounts for about 28% of global production, aramid fibers about 23%, and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers about 66%. Overall, China has become one of the top countries in production scale and application range. Carbon fiber, aramid fiber, UHMWPE, and basalt fiber production ranks in the world's top three, with mainstream products reaching advanced global levels in technology, output, and quality.

The rapid development of domestic high-performance fibers boosts manufacturing competitiveness and contributes to aerospace, defense, wind power, civil engineering, automotive lightweighting, and marine engineering.

1. Steady Expansion of Industry Scale

In 2021, China's total high-performance fiber capacity reached around 195,000 tons, with production of 102,000 tons. Production of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, UHMWPE, and continuous basalt fiber exceeded 10,000 tons each. Carbon fiber output reached 29,000 tons, covering high-strength, intermediate-modulus, high-modulus, and ultra-high-modulus grades (equivalent to T300, T700, T800, T1000, M40, M40J, M55J, etc.).

Other fibers such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) have steadily developed, while polyether ether ketone (PEEK), silicon carbide, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO), and wholly aromatic polyester fibers have seen new progress in key production technologies.

2. Significant Improvement in Technology and Equipment

The technical level of high-performance fibers has improved, with better fiber quality, product differentiation, and production stability.

a. Carbon Fiber
China now has three precursor production systems: DMSO, DMAc, and NaSCN. Dry-jet wet spinning and wet spinning processes are gradually optimized, improving production efficiency. Key technologies have advanced from industrializing T300 to T700, T800, 24k carbon fibers, and breakthroughs in T1000, T1100, M55J, M60J, and 48k tow fibers. Compared with Japan's Toray, China's DMSO-series carbon fibers cover nearly all equivalent grades.

b. Organic High-Performance Fibers
Para-aramid has reached thousand-ton industrialization. High-strength and high-modulus para-aramid are now domestically produced and verified in personal protective equipment. Colorable para-aramid filaments and ultra-high-strength fibers (equivalent to Kevlar KM2) are available for military helmets.

UHMWPE fibers have improved in high strength, high modulus, fine denier, heat resistance, and creep resistance. New fiber-specific resin technologies have also been developed.

Polyimide fibers have advanced in polymer synthesis, fiber shaping, post-treatment, and equipment, producing high-heat, heat-colorable, and high-strength high-modulus series in various deniers. PPS fibers now offer fine denier products (1.1 dtex) for more precise high-temperature filtration. PTFE fiber production innovations improve filtration and strength, enabling multilayer filter media for industrial emissions control.

c. Inorganic High-Performance Fibers
Continuous basalt fibers have achieved high-strength, high-modulus, and alkali-resistant series. Furnace simulation and optimized design improve production efficiency and reduce costs. Continuous silicon carbide fibers have advanced second-generation industrialization and are being tested in aerospace engines and nuclear power components.

d. Fiber Equipment
Key equipment for polyimide, UHMWPE, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber production has been domestically developed and upgraded, with single-line capacities exceeding 300 tons/year for UHMWPE and 3,000-ton carbon fiber lines. Graphite furnaces up to 1,000 mm wide have been produced domestically, ensuring independence from foreign technology.

3. Enhanced Product Applications

Domestic high-performance fibers are widely applied in aerospace, defense, wind power, civil engineering, automotive, rail, marine, communications, protective gear, environmental protection, and sports.

In 2021, total domestic consumption reached 149,000 tons:

Carbon fiber: 62,300 tons (46.5% domestic), mainly for wind turbine blades (22,500 tons).

Aramid fiber: 26,000 tons, with steady demand in insulation, fire resistance, and bulletproof applications.

UHMWPE: 25,000 tons, growing in ropes, cut-resistant gloves, and consumer markets.

Polyimide-based protective fabrics are used in forest and police protective clothing.

4. Innovation Platforms

China has built R&D platforms covering basic research, critical technology, and application demonstration, such as the National Carbon Fiber Engineering Technology Research Center and the National Aramid Engineering Technology Center. Universities like Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Shandong University, and Donghua University collaborate with industry to address core technologies.

The National Advanced Functional Fiber Manufacturing Innovation Center, established in 2019, accelerates industry upgrades and sustainable development.

5. Policy Support

Policies since the 2000s, including the "13th Five-Year Plan" for science, strategic emerging industries, and new materials, have supported high-performance fiber development. Military and defense applications receive special funding, promoting research, industrialization, and market adoption.

6. Economic and Social Impact

Domestic high-performance fiber production breaks foreign monopolies, boosts manufacturing competitiveness, and supports aerospace, defense, wind energy, construction, automotive, marine, and environmental applications.

For example, reducing vehicle weight by 100 kg decreases CO₂ emissions by 5 g/km, and 20% lighter aircraft reduce annual CO₂ by 140 tons. Carbon fibers also support green energy applications in photovoltaics, wind, and hydrogen power.

High-performance fibers are essential for China's manufacturing and high-quality development strategy. By 2025, domestic R&D and production are expected to reach international levels, with diversified products, scalable capacity, and independent key equipment.

The industry will focus on high-performance, low-cost, and stable mass production technologies, forming a complete "design–manufacture–evaluation–verification" ecosystem. This will expand applications in defense and key economic sectors, strengthening China's technological independence.

Sources: High-Tech Fibers and Applications, Chinese Society for Composites, Mechanical Engineering Materials (partial content from online sources).