A Carbon Fiber is a fibrous carbon material having a micro graphite crystal structure made by fibrillation of Acrylic resin, a well

known textile material, or from oil/coal pitch and then by being given a certain heat treatment. Carbon fibers, under industrial production now, are classified into PAN-based, pitchbased and rayon-based. Among them, PAN-based carbon fiber is in the largest production and best used in volume. In the beginning of 1970s, commercial production of PAN-based and isotropic pitch-based carbon fibers was started on a large scale in Japan. In the latter half of 1980s, anisotropic pitch-based carbon fiber manufacturers broke into the market. As the fruit of tireless technological improvement and business expansion, Japanese carbon fiber manufacturers have been keeping their position as world number one at quality and production volume of carbon fibers. Usage of carbon fiber by itself is not the rule. Commonly, customers apply carbon fibers for reinforcement and / or functionality of composite materials, made with resin, ceramic or metal as matrix. Carbon fibers are extensively applied to a large variety of applications with supreme mechanical characteristics (specific tensile strength, specific modulus) and other characteristics due to carbon matter (low density, low coefficient of thermal expansion, heat resistance, chemical stability, selflubricity, etc.).

Carbon Fibers, having supreme characteristics, are adopted in wide varieties of uses. Suppliers are able to provide, by using different raw material and applying divergent

production processes, wide diversity of the fibers having different specifications. Please find below diversified types and respective features of the fibers.

PAN Type Carbon Fiber A type of the fiber, produced by carbonization of PAN precursor (PAN: Polyacrylonitrile), having high tensile strength and high elastic modulus, extensively applied for structural material composites in aerospace and industrial field and sporting / recreational goods. Pitch Type Carbon Fiber Another type of the fiber, produced by carbonization of oil/coal pitch precursor, having extensive properties from low elastic modulus to ultra high elastic modulus. Fibers with ultra high elastic modulus are extensively adopted in high stiffness components and various uses as utilizing high thermal conductivity and / or electric conductivity.

Ultra high elastic modulus type (UHM) Tensile elastic modulus: 600 GPa or higher Tensile strength: 2,500 MPa or higher High elastic modulus type (HM) Tensile elastic modulus: 350-600 GPa Tensile strength: 2,500 MPa or higher Intermediate elastic modulus type (IM)

Tensile elastic modulus: 280-350 GPa Tensile strength: 3,500 MPa or higher Standard elastic modulus type (HT) Tensile elastic modulus: 200-280 GPa Tensile strength: approximately 2,500 MPa or higher Low elastic modulus type (LM) Tensile elastic modulus: 200 GPa or lower Tensile strength: 3,500 MPa or lower

There are two types of Carbon Fibers: Filament and Staple. In the subsequent processing, the fibers are given varieties of the final product forms.

"Light in weight, Strong and Durable!" Carbon Fibers are nothing but a 21st. century high technology material. The fibers have low specific gravity, exquisite mechanical properties (high specific tensile strength, high specific elastic modulus, etc.) and attractive performances (electric conductivity, heat resistance, low thermal expansion

coefficient, chemical stability, self-lubrication property, high heat conductivity, etc.). Those features have been stimulating Carbon Fiber users to develop numerous kinds of applications.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) is superior to steel or glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) in its specific tensile strength and specific elastic modulus (specific rigidity). That is to say, CFRP is "Light in Weight and Strong" in its mechanical performances.

Moreover, fatigue resistance of Carbon Fiber surpasses that of other structural material.

Carbon Fibers have low heat expansion ratio and high dimensional stability, and sustains its those excellent mechanical performances even under high temperature region. GFRP:Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics CFRP:Carbon Fiber

Reinforced Plastics AFRP:Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Carbon Fibers have high electric conductivity (volumetric impedance) and at the same time have excellent EMI shielding property. This successfully brings CFRP to the field of EMI shielding.

As Carbon Fibers have magnificent X-ray permeability in addition to being light in weight and rigid, CFRP is highly welcomed in the field of medical equipment parts. CFRP contributes to attain sharper and clearer photo images.

Carbon Fibers are manufactured by production processes as illustrated below. Manufacturers produce the fibers under different processing conditions to get assortments of products qualities.
*Put the cursor on red words to get additional information.

There are two kinds of raw material pitch: isotropic and anisotropic. Those two different types of pitch are processed in different ways respectively.
*Put the cursor on red words to get additional information.

Carbon Fiber customers have developed wide varieties of usage of the fibers making best use of the fibers' favorable properties as presented below. Another favorable point is that JCMA member companies are able to offer wide range of assortments of fiber performances as attained by using different raw materials and by applying different processes under different processing conditions. Types Filament Specifications A yarn constituted of numerous Major Usage Resin reinforcement material for CFRP, CFRTP

number of fiber: twisted, untwisted, twisted-and-untwisted Tow An untwisted bundle of yarn constituted of extremely numerous number of fiber

or C/C composites, having such usage as Aircraft/Aerospace equipment, sporting goods and industrial equipment parts Ditto

Staple Yarn A yarn made of spinning of staples Woven fabric A woven sheet made of filament or staple yarn

Heat Insulator, Anti-friction material, C/C composite parts Resin reinforcement material for CFRP, CFRTP or C/C composites, having such usage as Aircraft/Aerospace equipment, sporting goods and industrial equipment parts Resin reinforcement material particularly suitable for reinforcement of tubular products Compounded into plastics/resins or portland cement to improve mechanical performances, abrasion characteristic, electric conductivity and heat resistance Compounded into plastics/resins or rubber to improve mechanical performances, abrasion characteristic, electric conductivity and heat resistance Heat insulator, base material for molded heat insulator, protective layer for heat resistance and base material for corrosion-resisting filter Anti-electrostatics sheets, electrodes, speakercone and heating plate Aircraft/Aerospace equipment, sporting goods and industrial equipment parts needing lightness in weight and high performances

Braid Chopped fiber

A braided yarn made of filament or tow A chopped fiber made of sized or non-sized fiber

Milled

Powder made by milling fiber in a ball-mill etc.

Felt, Mat

A felt or mat made by layering up of staple by carding etc. then needlepunched or strengthened by organic binders A paper made from staple by dry or wet paper-making An intermediate material in a form of half-hardened sheets made of Carbon Fibers impregnated with thermosetting resin, qualities of which being stable and sustained long enough and therefore easily applicable for automatic sheet-layering

Paper Prepreg

Compounds A material for injection moulding etc. Housing etc. of OA equipment taking advantages made of mixture of thermo-plastics or of electric conductivity, rigidity and lightness in thermo-setting resins added by weight various additives and chopped fiber and then being compounded

The contents of this clause might not be applied to all carbon fiber. Please inquire the member company about the handling of their products. Properties of Carbon Fibers 1.Properties (1)As Carbon Fibers are very fine in nature and moreover easily breakable by stretching (by less than 2% elongation), the fibers can easily be made fuzz.

Being crushed and shortened in unit length, staple tends to become fly or dusts with ease and dispersed into atmosphere. (2)As most Carbon Fibers have high elastic modulus and is very fine in nature, micro fiber tends to stick to human skins or mucous membranes causing pains or itch. Carbon Fiber users are advised to be careful not to dispose naked skins to the fibers and to take deliberate dusts cleaning measures. (3)As Carbon Fibers have electric conductivity, fly or waste yarn can cause a short-circuit at electric lines. (4)As Carbon Fibers are solid-structured carbon and consequently are hard to be burned. In incinerating Carbon Fiber products wastes, Carbon Fiber users are recommended to carefully collect unburned staple dusts to avoid possible electric troubles. (5)As carbon itself is thought to have good compatibility with human body tissues, Carbon Fibers or composites of the fibers are largely used as artificial human body parts. 2.Handling Precautions Necessary precautions compiled through past experiences are as follows. (1)Prevention of generating plumage, dust and fly a.Troubles brought about by handling of Carbon Fibers are mainly caused by fuzz, dusts or fly generated during the handling of the fibers. As Carbon Fiber staple products are more or less fly-like, local air exhaustion is effective for avoiding any trouble during unpacking, taking out of packing or processing of the material. The identical measures are advisable in cutting down long continuous yarn to produce chopped fiber or in crushing the same to produce milled. b.If guides rub long continuous yarn in pulling out the yarn from bobbins, fuzz is generated or fly is generated in the case of breaking of the yarn. Use of less number of guides, use of rolling guides or applying lower tension to the yarn are altogether effective for reducing fuzz, fly or dusts. c.Making of woven textiles, braid, knit textiles, stitched preforms or punch-felts generates fuzz, dusts or fly as the yarn is stripped off or scrubbed. JCMA would suggest Carbon Fiber users having a local air ventilator working at any time to remove them. d.The first and foremost thing to be done for securing safety and labor health, and for accidents prevention as well is frequent dust cleaning and securing of air cleanness. Electric cleaners for household may be short-circuited by dusts. JCMA would recommend using an air ejector type cleaner instead. (2)Prevention of hazards to human body Being presented that Carbon Fiber yarn is "tough", peoples sometime try to tear off the yarn to make sure of that. Rather often, fingers or palms, instead of the yarn, are damaged. Please be warned that it is a hazardous challenge. a.Sticking to skins

Only by soft touching of dusts or fly to skins, one may feel pains or itch. Never try to "rubbing off". As a string of Carbon Fiber is just like a metal fine wire or pin, the dust penetrates into the skins more deeply causing the secondary inflammations. The best way is washing out a local skin by cold or hot water; pouring running water on with a help of soap. Another effective way is to make puffing by a strip of bundle tape or sticking tape. Itchy feeling on skins does usually not stay for long time. The stuck fiber will leave off skins in half a day. Coating protective cream on the skin is also recommendable particularly effective to be protected from high elastic modulus Carbon Fibers. b.Eyes and throats The last but by no means least thing is to protect eyes and throats from Carbon Fiber dusts. Workers ought to wear goggles and masks to prevent the dust penetration. In case of bad feeling on the eyes, it is recommended to consult with an eye-doctor immediately. (3)Electric facilities troubles and electric shocks When airborne fiber penetrates into switches or control equipment, short circuits may take place. JCMA does recommend to keep purging of electric equipment by clean air always going and to insulate connection points of wires and cables by painting or by insulation tapes. When Carbon Fiber processors put electronics equipment or PCs into a room where Carbon Fiber dusts are suspending, do protect these equipment by putting them into plastic boxes and by keeping the boxes pressurized by clean air A yarn string sticking to a plug may cause electric shocks to a human body or short-circuits at electric lines when the plug is inserted into an electric outlet. Workers ought to wear a pair of protection globes and clean out a plug before putting into an outlet particularly in the case of high voltage lines 200v or higher. JCMA does recommend not to handle Carbon Fibers in a room where glass fiber products for electric insulators are processed. 3.MSDS of Carbon Fiber Carbon Fiber is not categorized as hazardous material according to Japanese laws. Outlined descriptions of suggested MSDS for handling Carbon Fibers yarn prepared in compliance with the Japan Chemical Industries Association's guidelines are as follows. Carbon Fiber users should observe an MSDS issued by respective Carbon Fiber manufacturers. An MSDS dose not guarantee safety. A MSDS shall be carefully referred to in drawing up manuals, standards and regulations for each respective processing work of a Carbon Fiber processor. Currently societies put keen attentions on possible hazards that may be caused by newly developed chemicals and by micro quantity chemical additives. In view of the facts that Carbon Fibers are used as a composite material with other resins particularly with epoxy resin, Carbon Fiber users may as well take note on various regulations controlling chemical substances. 4.Emergency Care-taking

(1)Eyes: After removing contact lenses if any, wash out eyes by clean running water for more than 15 minutes. (2)Skins: Wash out by warm or cold running water with a help of soap. A strip of sticking tape also works effectively. (3)Inhalation: Wash out mouths immediately under clean fresh air. (4)Swallowing: Swallow large quantity of water and vomit. IIn each of above cases, immediate treatments by medical doctors are necessary if and when any abnormal syndrome remains. 5.Handling and Storing (1)Handling: Wear protection gears of skins, eyes and throats to prevent them from hazards of Carbon Fiber dusts or fly . Work out preventive measures for short-circuits of electric lines caused by the dust or fly. (2)Storing: Avoid storing under the sunshine and in warm and wet environment. Though Carbon Fiber itself dose not deteriorate, packing material, paper rolls and sizing agents degenerate. Some types of Carbon Fiber may be gradually oxidized by atmospheric oxygen under temperature higher than 150 degree C and so generated heat piles up to possibly cause fire. Kindly refer to manufacturers' MSDS. 6.Physical and Chemical Properties (1)Appearances, Shape and Color (2)Flash point: None (3)Ignitibility: Some of general purpose grades treated under temperature lower than 150 degree C may gradually oxidized by atmospheric air and so generated heat piles up to heat up the fiber red hot. Kindly refer to manufacturers' MSDS in this point. None of high mechanical strength and high elasticity grades has been found flammable. (4)Explosiveness: None even under as high as 1200g/m3. (5)Explosiveness of Suspended Dust: No data is available. 7.Stability and Reactivity (1)Flammability: Though Carbon Fiber is constituted of carbon which is flammable, the fiber itself dose not flare up even if ignited by flame of match or gas burners. If heated up higher than 400 degree C together with some fuel, the fiber slowly burns (oxidized) but stops burning right after the burning fuel is removed. In this aspect, Carbon Fiber is categorized as "incombustible" under the Building Code of Japan. (2)Reactivity: Carbon Fiber does not react with any agent except for strong oxidation agents. (3)Others: Carbon Fiber has electric conductivity and can cause short-circuits at electric lines. 8.Disposal (1)Carbon Fiber wastes should be regarded as "Industrial Wastes" but not "Household Wastes" and is categorized as "Plastics Wastes". (2)Local governments may have their own local codes by which disposing of

Carbon Fiber wastes is governed. (3)Disposing to a landfill is an appropriate disposal method. (4)Incineration by incinerators is not practical, as Carbon Fiber wastes do not burn out in conventional furnaces. Just if thrown into a furnace equipped with an electric dust collector, unburned fine fiber (fly) causes short-circuits troubles. 9.Transportation Water soaked Carbon Fiber and bursting of packaging bags bring about troublesome problems. Just if staple fibers like chopped fibers spill out of a packaging, carefully collect the spilled fiber into a container and dispose it as "Industrial Wastes" as mentioned in above item 8. 10.Other useful information Below please find listed up databases describing hazardous chemical substances. (1)Chemical Products Information Databases by Japan Chemical Industries Association: http://www.jcia-net.or.jp/ (2)Information on Chemical Substances (by National Drags and Foods Hygienic Laboratory): http://www.nihs.go.jp (3)Products Safety Datasheets by Petrochemical Industry Association: http://www.jpca.or.jp (4)Where to find MSDS on the internetht: http://www.ilpi.com (5)MSDS Search: htpp://www.msdssearch.com (6)MSDS pages of OSHWEB: http://www.oshweb.org