Shanghai Petrochemical, a subsidiary of Sinopec, announced the successful development of China's first 60K large-tow carbon fiber on Sept 18 in Shanghai.

The achievement fills a significant gap in domestic production and places Shanghai Petrochemical at the forefront of carbon fiber technology.

The advanced material expands Shanghai's carbon fiber production capabilities, which now include nearly 20 models of varying tow sizes, including 24K, 48K, and 60K. It also marks the establishment of a self-reliant supply chain for carbon fiber production in Shanghai.

Carbon fiber, lauded as the "king of new materials", is integral to Shanghai's strategy for future industries. The high-performance material, known for its exceptional strength and corrosion resistance, is widely used in fields like wind energy, solar power, high-speed trains, and aircraft components, and has a density less than a quarter of steel but a strength seven to nine times greater.

Industry standards define large-tow carbon fiber as having more than 48,000 filaments per bundle (48K). Shanghai Petrochemical overcame the technological challenges of producing 60K large-tow carbon fiber on a large scale. The company successfully carried out the entire production process, from raw material preparation to oxidation and carbonization, achieving industrial-scale trial production.

Compared to 48K large-tow carbon fiber, the 60K variant exhibits enhanced strength and deformation resistance, which improves production efficiency for downstream composite materials.

According to Shanghai Petrochemical Vice-General Manager Huang Xiangyu, the 60K carbon fiber has a tensile strength 23 percent higher than 48K, with a single strand capable of lifting up to one ton. It also shows a 5 percent increase in elastic modulus, making it well-suited for larger, more powerful offshore wind turbine blades.

Upon mass production, the 60K large-tow carbon fiber is anticipated to lower costs and broaden the application of carbon fiber in various sectors.

Source: Shanghai Observer