Chinese companies continue to invest in research and development to drive innovation. The high-performance fibers of high-strength PE, aramid, PSA, and PPS have promoted the development of bulletproof composite material, high-temperature filtration material, fire-retardant protective clothing and a variety of other end products. In addition, solvent cellulose fibers, PLA fiber, bamboo fiber, and hemp fiber from China have promoted the application of antibacterial and biodegradable medical products. Chinese hemp, which is nontoxic and makes full use of land space, does not compete for land with grain and cotton. The bast fiber used for the textile has antibacterial and anti-UV performance, and is a renewable, biodegradable and recyclable fiber.

Nonwoven technology has made a breakthrough in the areas of isotropy, uniformity, hand feel, and thickness of the products. Similarly, the progress of warp knitting and three-dimensional braid technology has broadened the field of composite-reinforcing materials, and broken the extremely difficult technical barriers of wind turbine blades, satellite frames, and rocket throat liners. High-speed heavy weaving technology and multi-layer online composite technology have promoted the industrialization of high-strength geotextiles and advanced medical materials.

Challenges ahead

Despite these advances, China’s nonwovens industry faces some challenges, including a poor link between supply and demand, expansion of end-product application fields, technology innovation, and the establishment of standards and specifications.

The country’s industrial textiles industry is still in its primary stage, with small-scale and scattered enterprises. Sales from the top 10 enterprises account for no more than 5 percent of total value of the industry. Manufacturing operations sometimes struggle with a lack of end products, shortage of advanced capacity, and poor product quality. The industry must focus on continued research as well as development of independent and innovative production techniques, especially for complicated composite technology, functional finishing, and overall molding technology.

The major industrial textiles made in China are middle- and lower-grade products and intermediate materials: Highly technical and added-value products still dependant on imports. Without an authoritative domestic testing and certification organization, it’s been difficult for Chinese industrial textiles to enter high-end markets and exports have also been restricted.