Plasma-based oxidation of carbon fibre dose to commercialization

摘要

A plasma-based oxidation method that dramatically reduces the time and energy needed for the production of carbon fibre has been developed by two partners in Tennessee, USA. RMX Technologies of Knoxville and the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have now signed an exclusive licensing agreement concerning the technology. In the production of carbon fibres, polymers are oxidized (stabilized) before being carbonized. During this oxidation, the thermoplastic precursor is converted to a thermoset that can no longer be melted.