Carbon Fiber Production | Carbon Fiber Applications | Carbon Fiber Properties
ConocoPhillips Equipment/Spin Lab | Summary - R & D Plans | Commercial Activities
 Contact Information

LOW COST PITCH BASED CARBON FIBER

http://www.fta.dot.gov/

The University of Tennessee Space Institute offers opportunities to participate in the advancement of low cost pitch based carbon fiber and the development of carbon based composite technologies.

CARBON FIBER PRODUCTION

- Carbon fiber is currently produced in relatively limited quantities mostly via two manufacturing processes:
A. Based on pitch (coal tar and petroleum products)
B. Based on Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
- Current global capacity for pitch-based carbon fiber is estimated at less than 2,500 metric tons per year.
- Global demand for PAN-based carbon fiber is roughly 19,000 metric  tons per year, and total capacity is 27,000 metric tons.
- PAN-based carbon fiber is more expensive to produce, hence, limiting its use to high end applications, (used primarily by aerospace and sporting equipment industries).

CARBON FIBER APPLICATIONS

- Portable power,

- Rechargeable batteries and fuel cell electrodes

- Fiber reinforced plastics, FRP

- Energy production; windmill blades,

- Building and construction materials: concrete and asphalt reinforcements, soil erosion barriers,

- Electronics, composite materials for automotives & general transportation,

- Specialty and niche markets.

CARBON FIBER PROPERTIES

Pitch and PAN carbon fibers have properties that suit different applications.

The most common carbon-fiber type is PAN, primarily for structural reinforcement because of its high tensile strength.

Mesophase pitch fibers, on the other hand, offer designers a different profile.  They are easily customized to meet specific applications.  They often have a higher modulus, or stiffness than conventional PAN fibers, are intrinsically more pure electrochemically, and have higher ionic intercalation.

Mesophase Pitch fibers also possess higher thermal and electrical conductivity, and different friction properties.

CONOCOPHILLIPS EQUIPMENT / SPIN LAB

UTSI has received all of the spin lab equipment and a number of components from Conocophillips (COP) pilot plant.

We are in the final stages of negotiating details related to receiving certain Intellectual Properties and use of other Intellectual Properties,

Lab space has been dedicated to the carbon fiber R&D,

Selected COP technical staff with be helping UTSI,

Other universities, labs and technical groups are to be invited to participate in this program.

SUMMARY - R & D PLANS

• UTSI plans to reassemble the spin lab and produce fibers.

• Develop commercially viable heat treatment.

• Develop various forms of carbon fibers.

• Develop different carbon fiber composites.

• Support academic programs as much as possible.

• Form a consortium of interested universities, labs and industrial partners to help accomplish the above goals.

• Support commercial development of low cost carbon fibers.

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

We believe that long term success of our carbon fiber program at UTSI hinges on a commercial partner to help support R&D efforts and to develop commercial products.

This may be accomplished through: cultivating commercial funding means not available to UTSI (or academic institutions).

Selected interested parties teaming with UTRF appears to be a viable forum for a commercial enterprise.

For information, or to discuss your potential interest, please contact: