Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masayuki Waga) has commenced sales of a rapid cure carbon fiber (CF) prepreg*. This prepreg can be cured in 60 seconds, substantially shorter than conventional products.
Ideal for uses in mobility, including aircraft and automobiles, where there is growing demand for lighter weight aircraft/automobile bodies, due to the environmental advantages. Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are perfectly suited for mobility as CFRPs are both light weight and strong. In addition, CFRP is a promising material for use in the expanding wearable device market.
Typically, it takes a fair amount of time to mold and fabricate CFRP, limiting the potential applications due to high cycle times. Our technology improves the productivity required to open up new opportunities for the use of CFRP.
Critically, rapid cure carbon fiber prepreg maintains storage stability equivalent to conventional products alongside a one minute rapid cure, two attributes which are difficult to achieve simultaneously. In addition, it offers the heat resistance required for automotive parts and possesses a high degree of mechanical strength. Sample work is underway and a the prepreg has already been selected for specific applications.
MCC is constantly pushing forward with the development of new products to address the diversification and sophistication of customer demands. Moving forward, MCC will continue to actively expand its business activities by supplying optimal solutions in a timely manner.
*A carbon fiber intermediate base material in sheet form impregnated with resin
For more information, please contact:
Communication Division | Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation | Tel: +81-3-6748-7161