By using the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor provided by Formosa Plastics Corp. and using 4M carbon fiber plasma oxidation technology to prepare carbon fibers, good results have been achieved.
4M Carbon Fiber Company (Knoxville, Tennessee, USA) reported on March 4 that the company has completed a carbon fiber manufacturing demonstration project, demonstrating the process of producing 15% strong carbon fiber using the company's atmospheric plasma oxidation Feasibility, while doubling production. This result, such as 4 million, demonstrates the ability to produce high-quality carbon fibers, while allocating capital and operating costs to more than three times the production capacity.
4M is exploring options to license the technology to carbon fiber producers. 4M's team worked with carbon fiber manufacturer Formosa Plastics (Formosa Plastics Corp., Kaohsiung, Taiwan) and the Department of Energy's Carbon Fiber Technology Facility (CFTF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA). The 4M team used The international patented atmospheric plasma technology developed by 4M and ORNL has oxidized the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor of Formosa Plastics. The fibers were then carbonized, surface treated and sizing on CFTF. The resulting carbon fibers were then tested on CFTF using industrial testing methods. Preliminary tests have shown that fibers produced using 4M oxidation technology have higher tensile properties than carbon fibers produced using traditional plastics precursors from Formosa.
Dr. Truman Bonds, 4M Chief Technology Officer, said: "We have not optimized the process of this precursor, so we believe that there is still room to increase processing speed and even improve carbon fiber performance. 4M intends to continue with several carbon fiber manufacturers and new entrants For technology licensing discussions, we hope to complete and announce a strategic partnership as soon as possible. "The next step in the commercialization process of M Plasma Oxidation is to complete a $ 20 million pilot plant that produces car manufacturers, freight companies, container manufacturers, and carbon fiber Samples required by the manufacturer. 4M general manager Mike Agentis said the PAN at the pilot plant may come from Formosa Plastics, but other suppliers are also being considered. The pilot plant is expected to bring 4M closer to commercial scale and produce quantities large enough to allow carbon fiber manufacturers to decide whether to license the technology.
The company also expects that the pilot plant, along with partners that have licensed the technology, will position 4M as supporting building capacity.