Is high-performance carbon fiber an upgraded version of general-purpose carbon fiber?

From the perspectives of product performance and preparation technology, high-performance carbon fiber has evolved from general-purpose carbon fiber. General-purpose carbon fiber typically possesses basic mechanical properties and can meet the requirements of some conventional applications. In contrast, high-performance carbon fiber achieves significantly enhanced performance through a series of technological improvements and process upgrades.

Take high-modulus carbon fiber as an example—it is obtained by further graphitizing conventional carbon fiber. Graphitization is an ultra-high-temperature process during which the carbon atoms within the carbon fiber undergo further rearrangement and crystallization, forming a more ordered graphite structure. This structural transformation significantly enhances the modulus of the carbon fiber, making it well-suited for applications with stringent requirements for material modulus, such as aerospace and high-end sporting equipment.

There are significant differences between general-purpose carbon fiber and high-performance carbon fiber in terms of mechanical properties, structure, manufacturing processes, and product prices. From the perspective of mechanical properties, the tensile strength of high-performance carbon fiber is greater than... 4.9 GPa, or a tensile modulus exceeding 350 GPa. High-performance carbon fibers are primarily used in high-end applications such as aerospace, where their application performance—including dimensional stability—is significantly superior to that of general-purpose carbon fibers. Compared with general-purpose carbon fibers, high-performance carbon fibers exhibit markedly superior performance in terms of dimensional stability and other application characteristics. Take the M55J-grade high-strength, high-modulus carbon fiber as an example: its dimensional stability can reach as low as 1 micrometer per meter per degree Celsius. From a macroscopic perspective, the diameter of general-purpose carbon fibers is about 7 micrometers, whereas that of high-performance carbon fibers is only 5 micrometers. At the microscopic level, high-performance carbon fibers have a denser structure with fewer defects—such as pores—on both their surfaces and interiors, and their graphite crystallites exhibit a higher degree of orientation. From a manufacturing-process standpoint, the preparation process for high-performance carbon fibers is considerably more complex. ， Process control requirements are higher, and both production costs and product selling prices are also higher.

High-performance carbon fiber is more expensive than general-purpose carbon fiber. , precious Where is it?

First, the raw material costs are high. High-performance carbon fibers have few defects and thus place stringent requirements on the quality of the precursor carbon fiber filaments. Typically, these filaments need to be custom-produced, and their impurity content, molecular chain structure, and physical properties must be strictly controlled. By contrast, general-purpose carbon fibers have relatively lower defect tolerance; they can use carbon fiber filaments of ordinary quality, with lower demands on both quality and performance, resulting in lower raw material costs.

Second, the preparation process is complex. The manufacture of high-performance carbon fibers involves multiple intricate and highly precise steps, each requiring exact control over parameters such as temperature, time, and atmosphere to ensure precise structural control and meet the required mechanical performance. For the production of high-modulus carbon fibers, additional processes like graphitization are also necessary, whereas these processes are not required for the preparation of general-grade carbon fibers.

Third, production costs are high. The process parameters for producing high-performance carbon fiber—such as processing temperature and utility consumption—are significantly higher than those required for general-purpose carbon fiber. This necessitates the use of more advanced production equipment, resulting in high capital investment costs. Moreover, the frequency of upgrading and maintaining key components of such equipment is markedly higher than that for general-purpose carbon fiber.

Fourth, product quality requirements are extremely high. High-performance carbon fibers are used in high-end manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, where product quality standards are particularly stringent. For example, in the aviation industry, structural components of aircraft must withstand extreme mechanical conditions, including aerodynamic forces at high speeds, intense vibrations, and extreme temperature fluctuations. This necessitates that high-performance carbon fiber products exhibit exceptional consistency and reliability, requiring rigorous control at every stage—from raw material selection and optimization of production processes to quality inspection. ， More effort and resources need to be invested to ensure the stability and reliability of quality.

Manufacturing In the future, will development in the carbon fiber field place greater emphasis on general-purpose products or high-performance products?

Manufacturing In the future, in the carbon fiber sector, general-purpose carbon fiber and high-performance carbon fiber will not develop in isolation from each other; rather, they will mutually promote and synergistically advance together. Leading carbon fiber companies are also pursuing both general-purpose and high-performance carbon fiber development simultaneously.

High-performance carbon fiber, as a key foundational material supporting the development of strategic sectors such as aerospace and high-end manufacturing, plays an indispensable role in realizing the nation’s major strategic objectives. However, the high-performance carbon fiber industry is characterized by high technological barriers, substantial investment required for production facilities, cumbersome and lengthy product verification processes, and a long investment payback period.

Given these characteristics, most companies tend to prioritize the development of general-purpose carbon fiber businesses, aiming to achieve investment returns within a relatively short period. This development trend has constrained the growth of China’s high-performance carbon fiber industry, making it difficult for certain high-performance carbon fiber products to meet the actual demands of the industry’s rapid development at this stage, thereby posing a serious challenge to the stability and security of the industrial chain.

Manufacturing As a key player in the nation’s strategic scientific and technological forces, we bear the important mission of driving technological advancement and industrial upgrading in critical national sectors. In the crucial area of high-performance carbon fiber—a field that the nation urgently needs to master— Manufacturing It is our inescapable responsibility to accelerate the R&D and industrialization of high-performance carbon fiber, enhance both the production capacity and product quality of high-performance carbon fiber, and ensure a stable supply of high-performance carbon fiber. “Flagship” initiatives will ensure a stable supply and safe operation of the high-performance carbon fiber industry chain, providing a solid guarantee for the sustainable development of China’s strategic industries.

Thanks to its relatively low cost and broad applicability, general-purpose carbon fiber has seen a steady increase in usage in fields such as sporting goods and wind turbine blades. The growing demand for general-purpose carbon fiber has provided a solid industrial foundation and market support for the research, development, and production of high-performance carbon fiber. Although high-performance carbon fiber has higher production costs, its product value-added is significantly greater than that of general-purpose carbon fiber, making it a high-value-added segment within the carbon fiber industry. In 2024, carbon fiber accounted for only 16.9% of global production in the aerospace, defense, and military industries, yet its share of total output value reached as high as 49%. The development of the general-purpose carbon fiber industry can help dilute the costs associated with high-performance carbon fiber in areas such as public utilities, environmental protection, and personnel training, thereby achieving more efficient resource utilization. This, in turn, can further reduce the production costs of high-performance carbon fiber and enhance its market competitiveness—creating a mutually reinforcing relationship between the two sectors.

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