Carbon fiber is a high-performance material widely used across aerospace, defense, automotive, and sports applications. Its strategic importance has driven China to invest heavily in carbon fiber production since the 1960s, creating a domestic industry capable of competing with global leaders.
Since 2008, China has achieved breakthroughs in military-grade carbon fiber and accelerated research in low-cost civilian-grade fibers, boosting competitiveness in global markets. With expanding downstream demand in aerospace, wind turbine blades, automotive lightweighting, and pressure vessels, China has become the fastest-growing carbon fiber market in the world.
1. Carbon Fiber Classification by Strength and Modulus (T-Series)
Carbon fibers are categorized by tensile strength and tensile modulus into:
- General-purpose carbon fiber
- High-strength carbon fiber
- High-modulus carbon fiber
- Ultra-high-strength carbon fiber
- Ultra-high-modulus carbon fiber
T-series designation:
- T300 < T600 < T700 < T800 < T1000 < T1100 (strength increases with number)
- M30 < M40 < M46 < M50 < M60 < M65 (modulus increases with number)
Modulus ranges:
- Standard modulus: 230–265 GPa
- Intermediate modulus: 270–315 GPa
- High modulus: >315 GPa
1.1 Small Tow vs. Large Tow Carbon Fiber
- Small tow (≤24K): Aerospace, defense, sports; “aerospace-grade”
- Large tow (>24K): Automotive, wind turbine blades; “industrial-grade”
Small tow fibers provide superior strength and stiffness but cost more. Standard-modulus fibers exist in both forms, while high-modulus fibers remain small-tow only.
Contact us to source high-quality T300 and T700 carbon fibers for aerospace or industrial applications.
2. Carbon Fiber Classification by Raw Material
Carbon fibers are produced from three main precursor materials:
- PAN-based carbon fiber (Polyacrylonitrile)
- Pitch-based carbon fiber
- Viscose-based carbon fiber
2.1 PAN-Based Carbon Fiber
- Accounts for over 90% of global demand
- Applications: aerospace, automotive, wind turbines, sports, construction reinforcement
- Production steps: pre-oxidation → carbonization → surface treatment → sizing
Leaders: Japan and the U.S. dominate high-performance PAN-based carbon fiber technology.
2.2 Pitch-Based Carbon Fiber
- Lower production cost: ~1/3–1/4 of PAN fibers
- Excellent modulus, thermal conductivity, and friction resistance
- Key aerospace applications where high stiffness is critical
2.3 Viscose-Based Carbon Fiber
- Lower strength and higher cost than PAN or pitch-based fibers
- Metal-free, ideal for EMI shielding, anti-static clothing, and strategic insulation materials
- Excellent heat and ablation resistance for thermal protection
3. Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Processes
3.1 Precursor Spinning Technology
- Wet spinning: high quality, slow, expensive
- Dry spinning: fast, continuous, environmentally friendly
- Dry-jet wet spinning: hybrid method, industry standard for T-series fibers
Dry-jet wet spinning offers:
- 5–10× faster productivity than wet spinning
- Higher precursor consistency and fiber orientation
- Lower production costs
3.2 CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) Manufacturing
Main CFRP processes:
- Prepreg autoclave curing: Aerospace-grade, high performance, labor-intensive
- Resin Transfer Molding (RTM): Medium-volume, high precision; widely used in automotive, aerospace, and sports
- Pultrusion: Continuous linear profiles; ideal for wind turbine spar caps
- Filament winding: Pressure vessels, drive shafts, high strength; mechanized production
China’s carbon fiber industry has evolved into a competitive global leader capable of producing T300, T700, PAN-based, pitch-based, and advanced CFRP products. With rapid growth in aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and industrial applications, China is shaping the future of global carbon fiber demand.
