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Japanese carbon fibre makers eye automobile sector

12 Jan '13

2 min read

In view of rising utility of carbon fibre in automobiles, Japanese carbon fibre producers have stepped up their efforts to set up stable supply systems.

According to The Japan Times report, demand for the fibre, which weighs less than aluminium but is stronger than iron, is expected to rise by four-times to 140,000 tons in 2020 from 2011 levels.

Presently, only few high-end automobile models use carbon fibre, but it is likely to meet enhanced utility even in mass-market models by 2015 as the EU and the US stiffen up their norms with regard to carbon dioxide emissions.

World's biggest producer of carbon fibre, Toray Industries Inc., has been supplying carbon fibre to German automaker Daimler AG since 2011, to aid its production of luxury cars and electric vehicles.

Likewise, Mitsubishi Rayon Co. has also inked a similar deal with BMW AG since 2011. During November 2012, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. procured Japanese and German firms that were incorporating carbon fibre production and processing technologies.

Meanwhile, another carbon fibre producer, Teijin Ltd. has developed a technology, the first of its kind in the world, to produce a carbon fibre based auto frame in just a minute's time. Last month, the company started feasibility tests for bulk production of such frames. The company looks ahead to supply these frames to its US partner, General Motors Co.

If the technology is commercialized, it is expected to lead to a massive reduction in cost of producing carbon fibre frames. These frames now cost many times higher than steel frames.

Toray, Teijin and Mitsubishi Rayon, which jointly contribute around 70 percent of world's total carbon fibre production, are also individually carrying out talks with Japanese automakers for supplying carbon fibres.

Technicaltextile News Desk - India