Search

The article focuses on the development of lower-cost and higher-speed methods of mass manufacturing carbon fiber products. It states carbon fibers are commonly created using polyacrylonitrile as a precursor material which is carbonized and developed into carbon fibers. It mentions the fibers are impregnated into chemically activated resins which are cured using autoclaves. It comments on new techniques of combining carbon fiber sheets with injection-molded plastic or three-dimensional printing.

In 2018, Shanghai Petrochemical successfully developed the polymerization, spinning, and oxidative carbonization technology of large tow carbon fiber, forming the technical foundation of a complete set of technology package for kiloton PAN-based 48K large tow carbon fiber. In 2021, the 4,000 tons of raw silk, 12,000 tons of 48K large tow carbon fiber project was launched, marking Shanghai's large tow carbon fiber has successfully embarked on the road of large-scale production from R&D trial production and industrialization. The 24,000 tons of raw silk and 12,000 tons of 48K large tow carbon fiber project of Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Shanghai/China, a subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec), with a total investment of 3.5 billion yuan (€ 450 million) officially started construction on January 4, 2021. [Extracted from the article]

LeMond Carbon Inc., Oak Ridge, TN/USA, founded in 2016 by the cycling hero Greg LeMond, has been granted a worldwide license to carbon fiber manufacturing technologies developed at Deakin University's Carbon Nexus, Geelong/Australia, and the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The total oxidation time and material properties verified by BV support LeMond's claims to lower costs and significantly increase output versus traditional carbon fiber technology. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the development of carbon fiber from polyethylene-based precursors to carbon fibers (CF) as an alternative way to produce more affordable material. It provides overview of the outstanding mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile-based (PAN) CF since they can be combined with a low-weight, making it highly interesting in the automotive industry. However, the high cost associated with PAN CF has brought to the development of conventional CF with potential cost savings.

The polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber producer Montefibre Carbon, Miranda de Ebro/Spain, is working on the development of an 80K carbon fiber precursor that is expected to be available by mid-2020 and aims to be the new standard for large-tow carbon fiber for industrial purposes. Montefibre's carbon fiber precursor is produced from what the company describes as an exclusive PAN formulation that is said to enable a carbon fiber with high elastic modulus and low density, which translates to very rigid and lightweight high-performance composites. 4M and Montefibre plan to disrupt the carbon fiber industry by combining Montefibre's ultra-large tow precursor and 4M's low-cost carbon fiber production technology to produce the world's lowest-cost industrial-grade carbon fiber. [Extracted from the article]

The article informs that Deakin University's carbon fiber research facility Carbon Nexus has increased its research and production capabilities, through the installation of the only polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor wet spinning line in the Southern Hemisphere. it mentions wet spinning line completes Carbon Nexus' value chain, allowing it to offer research and development services such as precursor development, white fiber spinning, and carbon fiber production.

The article offers information on the research and development work of textile company RadiciGroup on the production of polymer precursor polyacrylonitrile (PAN) for carbon fibre at its Radici Fibras Ltd. plant in Brazil.