Carbon fiber is generally classified into standard-grade, high-strength, high-strength medium-modulus, and high-strength high-modulus types. As a high-performance composite material, it possesses unparalleled properties that cannot be replaced by other materials, including lightweight, high strength, high modulus, electrical and thermal conductivity, high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, impact resistance, sputtering resistance, excellent design flexibility, and composite compatibility. Carbon fiber exhibits specific heat and electrical conductivity intermediate between non-metals and metals, features a low thermal expansion coefficient with anisotropic properties, and demonstrates excellent corrosion resistance and electromagnetic shielding capabilities. It is an indispensable strategic emerging material for cutting-edge defense equipment.
PAN-based carbon fiber boasts high mechanical properties and broad application fields, accounting for over 90% of global carbon fiber production. Currently, approximately 30 varieties have been developed across three major series: high-strength, high-modulus, and high-strength/high-modulus. Globally, companies with complete industrial chains—covering PAN precursor, PAN-based carbon fiber, fabrics, prepregs, unidirectional prepreg tapes, sheets, and composite products—include Japan’s Toray, Tenax, and Mitsubishi Rayon; America’s Hexcel and Cytec; and Germany’s SGL Group. Among these, Toray Industries, Inc. leads the world in carbon fiber production, excelling in quality, output, and product diversity.、
Regarding the development of the carbon fiber market, the 1960s marked the initial phase of carbon fiber industrialization, driven by the aerospace industry’s urgent need for corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and high-strength materials. Due to its lightweight and high rigidity, carbon fiber was first applied in satellite antennas and satellite support structures. Subsequently, its heat resistance and fatigue resistance led to its use in solid rocket motor casings and nozzles. By the 1970s, it began appearing in secondary structures of aircraft. Given aviation’s stringent requirements for strength and modulus, high-performance small-towel carbon fiber was adopted for multiple aircraft components, including fuselages, main wings, tail surfaces, and skins. By the end of 2020, global aerospace demand for carbon fiber had reached 16,000 metric tons, accounting for 15.4% of total carbon fiber consumption—second only to the wind power sector. Furthermore, high-performance small-towel carbon fiber, with its lightweight and thin properties, finds extensive applications in automotive components like license plate frames, brake pads, and hoods, as well as in sports and leisure products such as fishing rods, golf clubs, and pole vaulting poles. Its excellent X-ray transmissibility makes it an ideal material for medical panels. These broad market applications are key drivers accelerating the growth of the carbon fiber industry.