Key Technology Breakthrough in High-Performance Aramid Insulation Paper for New Energy Applications
Recently, the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology announced that the major scientific and technological research project titled "Key Technologies for High-Performance Aramid Insulation Paper in New Energy Applications" has successfully passed expert evaluation. The overall technology of the project was appraised by the China National Light Industry Association as reaching international advanced levels. Since its implementation, the project has generated significant economic benefits, contributed to the development of four national standards, and its developed aramid insulation paper products have obtained certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the United States.
Aramid insulation materials are globally recognized as the best insulating and structural materials, designated as key high-tech materials supported by China's 14th Five-Year Plan, and also represent urgently needed high-end strategic new materials for the country. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, high-speed trains, and upgrades to power grids, equipment such as high-power traction transformers, motors, and smart grid transmission and transformation systems now demand higher performance in strength, heat resistance, and insulation properties from aramid paper substrates. Currently, domestic aramid paper products suffer from low quality and are suitable only for mid-to-low-end applications, failing to meet the demands of high-end new energy sectors. As a result, high-strength, high-temperature-resistant aramid insulation paper remains heavily dependent on imports, making breakthroughs in its core manufacturing technologies an urgent priority.
"Domestic production of aramid insulation paper should focus on dual breakthroughs in raw materials and manufacturing processes to address performance shortcomings at their root. Jiangxi Province's approach—directly addressing industrial needs and precisely tackling technical challenges—proves an effective model for overcoming bottlenecks in critical materials," said Li Jinping, associate professor at the School of Light Industry and Engineering, South China University of Technology, project leader. Based on this strategy, his team has focused on core stages including aramid fiber preparation, pulp dispersion, and sheet formation, achieving breakthroughs in multiple key technologies and establishing an independent intellectual property-based process system. This effort supports the upgrading of Jiangxi’s new materials industry, breaks foreign technological blockades and market monopolies, and enables self-reliant technology development and import substitution.
A responsible official from the Third Division of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology explained that in recent years, the department has prioritized problem- and goal-oriented approaches to deeply integrate scientific innovation with industrial advancement. The recently approved project was specifically launched to address critical core technologies in the current development of the new energy sector, following a model of "government guidance, enterprise initiative, and research institute support."
"Since the project’s launch, the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology and Dingnan County have provided continuous follow-up, precise, and proactive services, helping Longbang Materials successfully connect with academician teams and offering full support throughout project proposal submission, policy assistance, and bridging industry-university-research collaborations. These efforts have laid a solid foundation for securing provincial-level major science and technology projects," said Li Yongfeng, general manager of Ganzhou Longbang Materials Technology Co., Ltd. He added that the company will continue leveraging national strategic scientific resources, further increase R&D investment, refine technical standards, and ensure ongoing optimization of production processes and product stability and reliability.
Li Yongfeng stated that they will accelerate large-scale industrialization and market expansion of the project outcomes. Leveraging their existing kiloton-scale production line, the company aims to rapidly scale up capacity and market share, accelerating the widespread replacement of imported products with domestically produced high-performance aramid insulation paper in the new energy sector. Ultimately, they aim to establish a complete set of manufacturing technologies with full independent intellectual property rights, ensuring timely and efficient service to the national new energy strategic industrial chain and contributing to the high-quality development of new materials and new energy industries in Jiangxi and nationwide.
"The project developed key technologies such as controllable molecular weight aramid polymer synthesis, preparation of non-circular short-cut fibers and flake/film-like precipitated fibers, slanted wire wet-forming at ultra-low concentrations, and dry-wet coupled hot rolling. These innovations solve longstanding issues in traditional aramid fiber web formation, including poor dispersion and significant longitudinal-transverse differences in paper properties," Li Jinping explained regarding specific achievements. Additionally, the project has established a 1,000-ton-per-year aramid insulation paper production line, whose main performance indicators meet the requirements for high-performance aramid insulation paper used in new energy applications.
