Zhang Shouchun, a researcher at Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, undertook the key deployment project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences – Preparation of T1000 ultra-high strength carbon fibers, which passed the acceptance of experts organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences last week. The team has successfully broken through the core technology of T-1000 super-strong carbon fibers and taken the lead in developing high strength hollow polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers in China. The prepared T1000 super high strength carbon fibers have both high tensile strength and high modulus of elasticity, and their performance indexes have reached the advanced level in the industry after testing by a third-party organization.
“Through in-depth analysis of the relationship between the structure and properties of carbon fibers, we carried out the optimization design of precursor chain structure, rheological control of spinning fluid, micro-nano structure control of fibers and key equipment technology research, and achieved a breakthrough in the core technology of T-1000 super-strength carbon fibers prepared by dry-jet wet spinning.” Zhang Shouchun said.

 
Zhang Shouchun introduced that the current application of carbon fibers is moving from a single structural load-bearing type to the direction of structural-functional integration. High-strength hollow polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers (HPPAN-based carbon fibers) are a new type of hollow carbon fibers with integrated structure and function, which can meet the special functions of structural strengthening, thermal insulation and filling modification.
The new hollow carbon fiber is different from ordinary hollow carbon film material. Its continuous filament has the characteristics of fine denier and high strength, good knittability and winding property, and different from the traditional solid carbon fiber, its core has a continuous and regular hollow structure. However, due to the difficulty of producing polyacrylonitrile-based hollow carbon fibers, only the German Basf Company and the Japanese Toray Company have mastered the relevant technology. The research team of Shanxi Coal Chemical Research Institute took the lead in developing polyacrylonitrile-based hollow carbon fibers in China in two years, breaking the monopoly of foreign technology.
Polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers (PAN-based carbon fibers) are indispensable key materials in the fields of aerospace, national defense and civil industry, and play an important role in national security and economic development. Polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers are mainly produced by wet spinning and dry-jet wet spinning. Because dry-jet wet spinning technology has the advantages of high production efficiency, good quality of carbon fibers and low production cost, the world’s high-end brands of carbon fibers are mainly produced by dry-jet wet spinning technology. However, this technology has long been used by Japan and the United States. The monopoly of the company, especially the super-high strength carbon fiber technology of T-1000 and above, is particularly serious in blockade of our country.
Zhang Shouchun said that with the rapid expansion of the application field and the increasing application requirements, high-end carbon fibers and new varieties of carbon fibers have become the hotspot of development in various countries. This research will be helpful to the development of high performance carbon fibers in China, and has positive significance for lightweight structure and multi-functional application.