Chinese University Sends Carbon Fibre Admission Letters, Students Use It As A Cutting Tool

Admission letters are often a source of immense joy and hope for students, symbolizing their hard-earned achievement and the beginning of a new academic journey. Typically, these letters are carefully stored away as keepsakes but for the accepted students of one university in China, their admission letters are proving to be much more versatile.

Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) has gained viral attention for issuing admission letters made from an ultra-thin carbon fibre material. According to reports from Oddity Central, these unique letters are only 0.2 millimetres thick, making them not only lightweight but also exceptionally durable.

Rather than simply preserving these letters, students have found creative and practical uses for them. Videos circulating online show students using their carbon fibre letters to cut fruits like melons and mince meat and even expose them to flames, demonstrating the material’s impressive resilience—neither burning nor melting under intense heat.

As these videos garnered widespread attention, a spokesperson from the university provided clarification about the material. The admission letters, he explained, are crafted from an “innovative material” developed at BUCT. Professor Yang Xiaoping from BUCT’s College of Materials Science and Engineering elaborated further, noting that the innovation showcases the university’s cutting-edge capabilities in the field of carbon fibre composite materials. He emphasised that this material’s use in admission letters not only reflects its potential for everyday applications but also highlights its significance in high-end industrial contexts, such as aerospace, military, and maritime industries, where high heat and corrosion resistance are crucial.

Despite the material’s impressive durability, the university has advised students against using the letters for potentially dangerous experiments, urging them instead to cherish the keepsakes. Online, many have marvelled at the toughness of these academic qualifications, with some humorously referring to the material as “black gold,” a term often used in industry due to its strength and value.

Other institutions have also gained attention for their unique admission letter designs, incorporating materials inspired by film slates, bamboo, and traditional Chinese elements, each adding a special touch to the academic milestone.