- Oxidized PAN fiber (OPF)
- Precursor is oxidized at 200-300°C and carbonized at 1,000–2,000°C
- OPF capacity increase by 40%
Toho Tenax Co., Ltd., a company of Teijin Group’s carbon fibers and composites business, has revised and renewed a long-term contract to supply Pyromex, an oxidized PAN fiber (OPF) to UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS), a member of the United Technologies (UTC) group. Under the terms of the agreement, Toho Tenax and UTAS have extended their contract another five years, to 2030.
OPF capacity increase by 40%
In addition, the Rockwood Tennessee facility of Toho Tenax America, Inc. has been awarded UTC Supplier Gold status and will increase its’ Pyromex OPF capacity by 40 percent by utilizing one of its’ inactive carbon fiber lines. Recommissioning of this line is expected to take place in late 2016.
Precursor is oxidized at 200-300°C and carbonized at 1,000–2,000°C
Carbon fiber is made of specialized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a precursor. The precursor is oxidized at 200-300 degrees centigrade and carbonized at 1,000–2,000 degrees centigrade in an oxygen-free environment. Toho Tenax provides flame-resistant and chemical resistant fiber produced by this oxidation process, which is widely used in aircraft brake-friction materials, flame-retardant sheets and specialty textiles, sodium sulfur (NaS) electrodes in batteries and among others.
