Mitsubishi Rayon has developed a new type polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber "PYROFIL P330 series" for larger scale composite parts such as automotives, pressure vessels and wind turbine blades. It has the same properties as existing fibers but will have an increased filament count, from 50,000 to 60,000.

Compared with conventional small-tow carbon fibers with less than 24,000(24K) filaments, it will have better processability for larger scale products with higher strength and elasticity modulus. The price will be 30 dollars per 1kg, almost the same as conventional products, and the company will aim for sales of 6 billion yen in 2010.

The physical properties of PYROFIL P330 series

The physicality properties of PYROFIL P330 series are 4700~4900Mpa for tensile strength and 235~255GPa for modulus of elasticity and by achieving the same performance, consistency and appearance quality　as small tow, this new fiber will considerably enhance the conversion of carbon fiber into mid-stream material (prepregs and preforms) and the efficiency of direct processing methods (filament winding and pultrusion, etc.) compared to conventional large tow, fully enabling it to fulfill the original promise of increased lamination effects and a reduction in the preparation process by using large tow carbon fiber.