Polyvinyl alcohol fiber, referred to as PVA fiber, refers to the high degree of polymerization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as raw materials, by spinning process made of synthetic fiber. Compared with other synthetic fibers, PVA fiber has the advantages of biodegradable, high breaking strength, strong moisture absorption, good thermal stability, chemical corrosion resistance, etc., which is suitable for medical and health, clothing manufacturing, construction engineering, environmental protection and industrial manufacturing.
The main preparation methods of PVA fiber include dry spinning and wet spinning. Dry spinning refers to the process of taking high concentration PVA solution as raw material, using spinneret to extrude the solution into hot air, and then producing the finished product through evaporation, solidification, stretching, heat setting and other processes. Wet spinning method refers to the spinning solution of PVA dissolved first, then extruded through spinneret to form tow, and finally finished products are produced through coagulation bath treatment, washing, stretching, drying and other processes. This method is widely used in the preparation process of PVA fiber enterprises in China.
According to the “2024-2028 China Polyvinyl alcohol fiber (PVA fiber) market monitoring and future development Prospects Research Report” released by Xinsi Industry Research Center, PVA fiber is a high-performance synthetic fiber and has broad application prospects in many fields. In the medical and health field, PVA fiber has the advantages of non-toxicity and good biocompatibility, and can be used to manufacture medical sutures and artificial intestines. In the field of construction engineering, it has the advantages of good mechanical bonding and good mechanical properties, and can be used as cement reinforcement material. In the field of industrial manufacturing, it can be used to produce rope, braided hose and so on.
The main manufacturers of PVA fiber in the world include Japan’s KURARAY, Japan’s UNITIKA, and Malaysia’s JTC. Japan Corri for the world’s first with PVA fiber independent research and development and production strength of the enterprise, its launched “VPB” PVA water-soluble fiber, widely used in the field of textile and paper. At present, Cololi has become the main supplier of medical grade PVA fiber in China.
In the local area, attracted by the market prospect, China has a number of enterprises layout PVA fiber industry R & D and production track, mainly including Wanwei High-tech, Ningxia Dadi, Sichuan Chuanwei and Shuangxin environmental protection. Wanwei High-tech focuses on the research and development, production and sales of high-strength and high-mode PVA fiber, PVA optical film and other PVA related derivative products, and is the representative enterprise of PVA fiber in China. According to the announcement of Wanwei High-tech Company, in the first quarter of 2024, the company’s PVA high-strength high-mold fiber achieved revenue of 88.56 million yuan, an increase of 43.2%.
Joyforce Industrial analysts said that PVA fiber has excellent comprehensive performance and broad application prospects in many fields. In terms of market competition, overseas developed countries have long occupied the dominant position in the PVA fiber market, and it is expected that in the next period of time, with the continuous efforts of local enterprises and the improvement of technology maturity, China’s PVA fiber industry will gradually develop in the direction of high performance.
