On August 28, the Donghua-Anta Self-Developed Technological Fabric Innovation Summit and Anta's Fluorine-Free Membrane Technology Launch Event were held at our university. Distinguished guests in attendance included Yu Jianyong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at Donghua University; Zhang Qinghua, Vice President of Donghua University; and Xu Yang, CEO of the Anta brand. Additionally, representatives from the Institute of Science and Technology, the Textile Science and Technology Innovation Center, Anta Group, and technical experts participated in the event.
In his video address, Yu Jianyong stated that the high-performance fluorine-free waterproof and breathable textile materials, developed with deep involvement from research teams, provide critical technological support for the textile industry chain's transition toward environmental friendliness, health, and safety. Throughout the textile industry's development journey, innovation remains the primary driving force. We must steadfastly advance breakthroughs in core technologies, deepen university-enterprise collaboration, actively build a comprehensive textile technology innovation system, continuously enhance the international competitiveness of China's textile technology, and propel the industry's green transformation and sustainable high-quality development.
Zhang Qinghua emphasized that the Donghua-Anta Joint Innovation Institute fully leverages our university's strengths across multiple disciplines including materials science, textiles, and design. It conducts systematic research focused on key areas such as bio-based materials, low-carbon technologies, and advanced functional fabrics. Collaborating with Anta Group, the institute tackles critical technological bottlenecks in athletic footwear and apparel. By fostering a deeply integrated ecosystem of industry-academia-research-application, it propels the vigorous development of China's sports industry.
Xu Yang fully affirmed the deep industry-academia-research collaboration with our university and expressed sincere gratitude for the institution's steadfast support over the years. He noted that the rapid commercialization of the innovative fluorine-free Anta membrane hinged on robust university-enterprise collaboration, a mature production system, and powerful industrial chain resource integration. This achievement marks China's brand autonomy in core technologies. Anta will leverage this milestone to actively promote the widespread adoption of high-performance waterproof and breathable fabric technology, accelerating the transition of green technology from laboratories to the mass consumer market.
(Anta Presents Donghua University with the world's first new generation ‘Storm Jacket’ featuring Fluorine-Free Anta Membrane)
At the conference, Researcher Si Yang, Deputy Director of the Textile Science and Innovation Center and Dean of the Donghua–Anta Joint Innovation Research Institute, together with Anta Technology Director Liu Jun, jointly unveiled Anta's fluorine-free membrane technology. Xu Yang presented our university with the world's first Storm Armor jacket featuring the new generation fluorine-free Anta membrane.
It is understood that achieving fluorine-free high-performance waterproof and breathable fabrics has long been recognized as a world-class challenge within the industry. Through close collaboration with enterprises, the research team led by Academician Yu Jianyong at our university has independently developed the high-performance fluorine-free waterproof and breathable textile material ‘Fluorine-Free Anta Membrane.’ This membrane significantly enhances moisture permeability through proprietary high-moisture-conducting bio-based polymers and micro-nano structural regulation. Simultaneously, through technological innovations in multiple critical areas, including fluorine-free water-repellent surface modification and fluorine-free adhesives, the membrane ensures waterproof performance without adding organic fluorine compounds. Third-party authoritative laboratory testing confirms that fabrics incorporating Fluorine-Free Anta Membrane have achieved internationally advanced levels in core metrics such as hydrostatic pressure resistance and moisture permeability, successfully overcoming the global challenge of ‘fluorine-free high performance.’
As the supporting institution for the Donghua-Anta Joint Innovation Institute, the Textile Science and Technology Innovation Center has actively leveraged the university's strengths in textiles, materials, chemical engineering, and design to undertake 27 research projects. It has proactively developed innovative technologies such as passive light-emitting fiber technology and functional research for athletic footwear and apparel, which hold broad future applications in smart sports equipment and human-machine interaction in sports. The Donghua-Anta Joint Innovation Institute, grounded in the university's role as a leading force in applied basic research and a source of technological innovation, not only establishes a first-mover advantage for Chinese brands but also demonstrates R&D capabilities sufficient to achieve ‘overtaking on the straight track.’
