On November 20th, the 9th International Conference on Advanced Fibers and Polymer Materials (ICAFPM2019) with the theme of “Next Generation Fiber: Shaping a Better Future” was held at Songjiang Campus of Donghua University. The conference was hosted by the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials (Donghua University), supported by the Division of Fiber Materials and Composite Technology, Chinese Materials Research Society, the 111 Project on Advanced Fiber Materials Science and Technology, and the College of Materials Science and Engineering of Donghua University.
Yu Jianyong, member and president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He pointed out that the discipline “materials” is an important wing in the new characteristic pattern “one body and two wings + engine” for disciplines at Donghua University. The new generation of fiber serves as the basis for smart clothing, wearable devices, and smart health products, which undoubtedly makes its research and industrialization the focus of technological competition. He hoped that all parties would discuss the latest research trends and development directions in fiber materials across the world, as well as exchange and share research results on the platform of the international conference. He sincerely hoped that everyone would contribute their ideas, as he believed that the wisdom and strategies of experts across the world will definitely have a positive and far-reaching impact on the development of the discipline at Donghua University. The high-level international conference allows in-depth exploration into the most cutting-edge research trends and development directions in the world of fiber materials as well as exchange and sharing of research results.
(Speech by Yu Jianyong)
Elsa Reichmanis, member of the National Academy of Engineering, U.S.A., and professor of Georgia Institute of Technology, Zhang Xi, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and director of Polymer Division, Chinese Chemical Society, and president of Jilin University, are the chairmen of the academic board of the conference. Zhu Meifang, dean of College of Materials Science and Engineering and director of the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, chaired the conference.
(ICAFPM2019)
The conference attracted more than 500 experts and scholars from all over the world to Donghua University, including more than 50 well-known overseas scholars and experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Canada. Nearly 150 famous experts delivered reports (10), keynote speeches (45), and invited lectures (101), including members of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Inventors, National Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Chemistry, European Academy of Sciences and Arts, European Academy of Foreign Sciences, Korean Academy of Engineering, Academy of Engineering Singapore, and Indian National Academy of Engineering, as well as chairman of the Asian Polymer Association, former chairman of the European Polymer Federation, and vice chairman of the African Materials Research Society. Together they emphasized the importance of strengthening basic theoretical research, acutely pinpointing international academic frontiers, carrying out in-depth interdisciplinary cooperation, and actively promoting industrialization in response to the main shared needs of humanity.
At the conference, the 2nd Qian Baojun Fiber Award was presented to three scholars from the United States, South Korea and China, respectively. Professor Darrell H. Reneker of The University of Akron in the United States won the “Outstanding Contribution Award” for his pioneering work in electrospinning technology, especially the use of the technology to prepare nanofibers. Prof. Huisheng Peng of Fudan University and Professor Kim Il Doo of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology were awarded “Young Scholar Award” for their outstanding research in fibrous energy capture devices and multi-component inorganic ceramic nanofibers. The biennial award was initiated by the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials (Donghua University) in 2017.
(The 2nd Qian Baojun Fiber Award)
This year also marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Materials (Chemical Fiber) of Donghua University and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the College of Materials Science and Engineering. Founded in 1994, the college evolved from the first department of chemical fiber in the People’s Republic of China in 1954 to chemical fiber laboratories, research institutes and then department of chemical fiber. For a long time, the discipline has played an important role in facilitating the upgrading and transformation of the chemical fiber industry. It has successively overcome a series of common basic problems and key technologies in the industry, such as functional copolyester, nanocomposite functional fiber, and high-capacity polyester direct spinning, and made major contributions to China’s becoming the world’s largest producer of chemical fiber. At the same time, it has actively engaged in research and development of strategic new materials required by national defense and military projects, in particular, with great breakthroughs in the development of high-performance fibers. It has addressed the “lack” of strategic materials such as carbon fibers, high-strength high-modulus polyethylene fibers, and aromatic polyamide fibers, exerting active effect on China’s emerging to be a fiber power.
With a history of 65 years and 25 years of hard work, the materials discipline of Donghua University enjoys unprecedented momentum and enthusiasm. It is strengthening its basic research and original research, reinforcing the development of high-precision fiber, leading the development of fiber materials and shaping a better life with next-generation fiber “Made in Donghua”.
