Recently, an appraisal meeting for the project titled "Industrialization Technology of Key Equipment and Core Processes for Liquid Crystalline Polyarylate Synthesis and Fiber Preparation," organized by the China National Textile and Apparel Council, was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. This project was led by Donghua University and completed in collaboration with Ningbo Haigela New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangmen Dezhongtai Engineering Plastics Technology Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Xingju Materials Technology Co., Ltd. After rigorous evaluation, the appraisal committee unanimously concluded that the project's achievements have reached an overall internationally advanced level, marking a fundamental shift in China's high-performance liquid crystalline polyarylate(LCP) fiber sector—from long-term reliance on imports to independent and self-reliant control.
Liquid crystalline polyarylate (LCP) fiber offers a comprehensive range of exceptional properties, including ultra-high strength, high modulus, high-temperature resistance, low dielectric loss, and dimensional stability under extreme conditions. It is an indispensable high-end material for key strategic sectors such as aerospace and electronic communications, which are critical to national security. However, its core technology and market were long dominated by foreign entities. To overcome this technological blockade, Donghua University initiated independent research with forward-looking vision in 2008, achieved the first successful laboratory-scale process in 2019, and passed pilot-scale appraisal. The successful industrialization of this project demonstrates that the team has not only tackled scientific challenges but also systematically overcome the barriers of scaling up engineering from core equipment to integrated processes. It has established a complete proprietary intellectual property system and stable production processes, providing a solid foundation for the security of China's related industrial chains. The core innovation of the project lies in its integrated, independent innovation across the entire process including polymerization, spinning, and heat treatment. Currently, the project's products have reached internationally advanced levels in standard specifications, while achieving superior performance in high-end areas such as high-strength, fine-denier, and colored fibers.
The project has successfully achieved a leap from technological breakthrough to industrial leadership. Led by Donghua University, the national standard for *Liquid Crystalline Polyarylate Filament* (GB/T 46185-2025) was established, and a stable production line with an annual capacity of one thousand tons of resin and fiber was constructed, featuring mature processes and stable equipment operation. The products have achieved significant application breakthroughs in China’s key strategic sectors such as aerospace and electronic communications, delivering substantial economic and social benefits, and demonstrating the strong vitality of industry-academia-research collaborative innovation.
As the birthplace of the technology and the lead institution, our university fully leveraged its profound expertise and leading advantages in the field of high-performance fibers, providing comprehensive and decisive theoretical guidance and technical support throughout the entire process—from molecular design, process innovation, and equipment development to application evaluation. We also vigorously promoted the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, and talent chain. The participating enterprises, including Ningbo Haigela, Jiangmen Dezhongtai, and Guangdong Xingju, among others, played indispensable and pivotal roles in equipment process engineering, key resin supply, and stable fiber mass production, jointly establishing this benchmark for industrialization.
The success of this project represents another major landmark achievement of our university in serving the national innovation-driven development strategy, advancing the construction of a modern industrial system, and conquering key core technologies. It has significantly enhanced our university’s academic influence and industrial contribution in the field of advanced materials, injecting strong “Donghua impetus” into ensuring national strategic security and promoting high-quality industrial development.
