Applications are likely to include structural products for aircrafts and cars, and high-end products for sports and leisure.
Mitsubishi Rayon adds that to save the weight, it is necessary not only to improve the material strength but also to improve the material rigidity (modulus of elasticity), which allows making structures lighter and thinner. However, it is difficult to improve both the strength and modulus of carbon fibre at the same time.
The new product, MR70, is an IM carbon fibre which has strength of around 7GPa (1000ksi) and modulus of around 325GPa (47msi) and exceeds MR60H, a conventional IM fibre from Mitsubishi Rayon, by approximately 20% on strength and by approximately 10% on modulus. This high performance was achieved by maintaining precise control of the carbon fibre microstructure and eliminating defects by improving the manufacturing process of the precursor - the raw material of the carbon fiber – and the all manufacturing processes of the carbon fibre itself.
Mitsubishi Rayon has already started production in a domestic plant and started sample shipments to users in aerospace and sports-leisure applications.
