A NEW generation of high-performance carbon fiber, often dubbed “black gold,” has officially transitioned from laboratory research to large-scale production in China, marking a significant breakthrough in the country’s advanced materials sector.

The domestically developed T1000-grade 12K small-tow carbon fiber is now being produced at scale by Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical, a milestone that is set to reshape the landscape of high-end material applications, according to a report by China Media Group (CMG).

This new material is as thin as it is strong. Each bundle contains 12,000 individual filaments, with each filament measuring less than five micrometers in diameter, about one-tenth the thickness of a human hair.

Despite its slender profile, a single tow boasts a tensile strength exceeding 6.5 gigapascals, enough to pull a medium-sized truck weighing around 10 tonnes.

With a density less than a quarter of steel but seven to nine times its strength, the material offers exceptional corrosion resistance and durability, making it indispensable for strategic industries such as aerospace, low-altitude economy, and embodied intelligence.

The achievement represents decades of dedicated research. According to Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical, the newly mass-produced fiber utilizes a unique wet-spinning process developed in-house, which gives the fiber surface a grooved texture. This design improves its bonding with resin materials during composite manufacturing, enhancing overall product performance, said the CMG report.

The market potential for this “black gold” is vast. In the aerospace sector, carbon fiber composites are critical for reducing weight and improving performance.

On a grander scale, a single large commercial aircraft can require eight to 10 tonnes of this material for its airframe and components. In the low-altitude economy, including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and drones, carbon fiber composites are set to tap into a tens-of-billion-yuan market across high-end applications including aviation-grade primary load-bearing parts, airframe structures, and propellers, according to the report.(Xinhua)