In September 2019, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation developed a polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber with the largest fiber diameter, but it is still visible in this material. Although the diameter of each fiber of the general carbon fiber is 5-7 microns, the new product makes it up to 10 microns, marking a significant increase in fiber diameter.
The temporary name of this new carbon fiber material is 34-550. Because each fiber contained in the material is thick, it is very suitable for resin transfer molding, pultrusion and other such molding methods, in which the matrix resin is used for impregnation during the molding process, so that the resin can be completely impregnated Fibre gaps help reduce labor. The material is also very suitable for continuous fiber reinforced intermediate materials using high viscosity thermoplastic resins.
Mitsubishi Chemical's new material has a tensile modulus of 240GPa and a tensile strength of 4,200MPa, and is a general-purpose carbon fiber. At the same time, it is worth noting that the fiber diameter will help prevent bending, so that the molded product has better compression characteristics. The cross-section of the fiber is relatively flat, and when carbonized or graphitized, heat can be better penetrated into the center of the fiber.
Mitsubishi Chemical plans to sell this new material in 12K and 24K versions. The company has confirmed that it can use the equipment in Wyoming to produce the material. Future plans are to strengthen the demand for this product by highlighting its good moldability in composite materials, with a particular focus on automotive parts and wind power blades.