Mitsubishi consolidates composite production

BUSINESS

curing methods using ovens or autoclaves, where components are subject to pressure, as well as heat. Energy costs and the time taken to cure the composite components are substantially reduced as microwave energy penetrates into the material and energy

Reinforced Plastics  Volume 59, Number 6  November/December 2015

is not wasted heating the rest of the oven. Using microwaves reduced curing time and energy consumption by up to 30% for the acoustic cover and further gains are expected following additional research.

The Center is now working on a further project with KCTECH to develop a manufacturing process to make automotive leaf springs using composite materials, which could be lighter and more energy efficient. AMRC; www.amrc.co.uk

Mitsubishi consolidates composite production BUSINESS

Mitsubishi plans to integrate the pitchbased carbon fiber business of Mitsubishi Plastics and the PAN-based carbon fiber business of Mitsubishi Rayon to develop its composite materials business. Mitsubishi Rayon will succeed Mitsubishi Plastics’ pitch-based carbon fiber business

276

through a company split and launch a new organization, in which the pitch-based carbon fiber business and PAN-based carbon fiber business will be integrated, from April 2015. The combination of the two businesses could make them the only manufacturer

in the world using both coal pitch-based carbon fiber and PAN-based carbon fiber technologies. The companies have already developed a series of Diamana B, W and R golf shafts using both types of carbon fibers. Mitsubishi Plastics; www.mpi.co.jp