The company developed its new grade carbon fibre with a uniform structure by optimizing the structural design of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based precursor and by optimizing its manufacturing process.

Compared to TENAX IMS65, the existing grade carbon fibre that has been mainly used for aircraft applications, TENAX XMS32 is said to offer 10% more intensity and 10% greater tensile modulus, the company reports. In addition, resin adherence has been significantly improved through new surface-modification technology to refine the chemical characteristics of the carbon fibre’s surface and control its smoothness on the nano level.

 Prepregs for automotive applications

Carbon fibre used in aircraft, automotive, high-end sports and leisure applications must offer very high levels of stiffness, as well as improved intensity and tensile modulus, the manufacturer reports.

The trend toward the thin-walling of products causes problems with stiffness and tensile modulus properties. It had generally been difficult to realize both intensity and tensile modulus in PAN carbon fibre due to decreased intensity resulting from increased tensile modulus.

Toho Tenax is developing prepreg using TENAX XMS32 for airplanes and expects to develop prepregs for automotive and high-end sports and leisure applications in the foreseeable future.  Going forward, the company will continue extending its line-up of carbon fibre ranging from yarn to structural parts, to meet wide-ranging needs for customer applications.

Teijin Group

Teijin is a technology-driven group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare.

Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibres, such as aramid, carbon fibres and composites, healthcare, films, resin and plastic processing, polyester fibres, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 16,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide.

www.teijin.com