Published September 1983
Carbon fiber is a lightweight, flexible, high strength, high tensile modulus material produced from polyacrylonitrile (PAN), pitch, or rayon by a series of heating steps. It Is used as a material of construction for aircraft, spaceships, sporting goods, and industrial products where weight savings and performance are of primary consideration. The demand for carbon fiber is still small (1,440 metric tons in 1982) but is growing very rapidly, averaging about 35%/yr In the last 10 years.
This report reviews the technology for making carbon fiber and presents cost estimates for making the following representative products:
- Mesophase pitch-based continuous yarn
- PAR-based continuous yarn
- Rayon-based fabric
- Rayon-based felt.
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