PAN based carbon fiber precursors use accelerated E-beam stabilization of PAN based carbon precursor fibers to make carbon fiber. Compositions are also proposed for melt-assisted spinning of high acrylonitrile content precursors.
Other melt-spin technology allows for ultra-high strength carbon fibers. Current carbon fibers dominate the market for advanced structural fibers because of their superior strength/weight properties; however, this invention addressing synthesis, purification, doping and specialty processing can produce a two-fold increase in strength.
Various grades of PAN based precursors have been developed, requiring various new compositions for melt-spun PAN (as well as solution spun PAN) fibers. Using ORNL methods, carbon fiber can be made less expensively.
Also, in our search for low-cost carbon fiber, we developed a method to create ultra-high strength structural carbon fiber, which can be licensed independently for those interested in pursuing those applications. Additional research incrementally bridges the gap between the two, and never ceases toPatents Pending (Inventors are Cliff Eberle, Chris Janke, John Rivard, Amit Naskar, Felix Paulauskas):
Alex DeTrana
Technology Commercialization Manager
UT-Battelle, LLC
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Office Phone: 865-576-9682
E-mail: detranaag@ornl.gov