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Toho Tenax makes energy-saving technology for automobiles

19 Jan '16

2 min read

Toho Tenax, the core company of the Teijin Group's carbon fibres and composites business, has developed technologies for innovative microwave carbonisation and plasma surface treatment, which are expected to help energy and CO2 emissions saving production of automobiles, high-speed railcars and aircrafts through increased use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Toho Tenax is now working to commercialise the technologies for mass production in the coming future, when CFRP is expected to be used on an increasingly large scale.

Toho Tenax, using the world's first application of microwave energy carbonisation under atmospheric pressure, has achieved a tensile modulus of 240 GPa or greater and rupture elongation of 1.5 per cent or greater, both equivalent to levels found in industrial products. The advanced carbonising process was developed by examining the fibre-structure formation process when carbonising a bundle of between 12,000 and 24,000 pieces of flame-resistant oxidised PAN fibres, and then developing the most appropriate microwave processing method to carbonise this fibrous material. Using direct heating with microwave energy, fibrous material is carbonised continuously without having to maintain a high-temperature oven, thereby saving time and energy.

Toho Tenax has also succeeded in developing a carbon fibre ultra-fast plasma surface treatment technology using dry process. The highly simplified process reduces energy consumption by 50 per cent for the whole process, compared to the conventional carbon fibre production process. In addition, the ultra-fast treatment improves the adhesiveness of carbon fibre and matrix resin, according to a press release.

Toho Tenax's research and development programs were implemented by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). NEDO began promoting the research and development of innovative materials and technologies in 2014. One of the core themes of this initiative has been the research and development of core technologies for innovative carbon fibre mass-production processes for inventive CFRP applications. Toho Tenax has been participating in the project from the early stage. (GK)

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