NTT will grow its production capacity of preoxidized PAN by 500 tons per year, setting up a new production line that is finally coming to be operational. Tests are on their final phase, and by the coming September 23rd, it will be fully operative.

Koreox preoxidized PAN is a flam retardant fiber made by the slight carbonization of a carbon fiber polyacrylonitrile precursor.

Preoxidized PAN transforms into a carbon fiber when it undergoes further carbonization at higher temperatures and becomes an activated carbon fiber when it goes through a vapor or chemical activation process.

This demonstrates that while Koreox Preox PAN belongs to a family of acrylic carbon fibers, it is an advanced functional fiber with high flame-resistance, softness and flexibility. It maintains a wool-like softness and pliable touch, along with its excellent flame-resistance. Moreover it is a very light fiber.

As for properties, Koreox is naturally black like carbon fiber. It has a specific electric resistance of 108-1010O.cm and does not have as much electric conductivity as carbon fiber, having 10-2-10-3 O.cm.

The outstanding feature of Koreox lays in flame-resistance and self-extinguishing properties.

As is indicated by the L.O.I (Limitating Oxygen Index), Koreox has the highest level of about 50 in such value, compared with other high-tech fibers.

A value of over 26.5 in L.O.I. is regarded as self-extinguishing and is called flame retardant.

The material surpasses this value by far and might well be called "quasi-non-flammable" fiber, which does not burn in the atmosphere. Even when brought near a flame, the material does not burn, melt or shrink, but carbonizes maintaining the original form.

In body protection and garments, when used for flame -or heat-resisting suits, it does not cause secondary burns, thus enabling the user to minimize the physical danger to the body.

The L.O.I. index of Koreox also makes it anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic, therefore the best to protect the skin with the maximum comfort. For these reasons, it finds good use in the outfit of the F1 pilots.

Applications

Koreox has a wide and diversified range of applications from special clothing fields to industrial materials, proving especially effective for the applications exposed to the danger of a fire and extreme heat.

Common industrial applications, protective sheets against welding sparks, fire protective curtains, thermal insulation curtains, fire protective covers, clutches and brakes, laminates and composites.

To protect people, is used in many different fields, for special work uniforms, like for firemen, welding, furnace work, flame -and heat-resistance underwear, and for protective and safety clothing and disaster preventive equipment, heat resistance gloves, aprons, hoods, arm-cover, fire escape ropes, as well as insulation material for automotive or transportation, building insulation and fire protection.

Production increased capacity

With its wide range of application, worldwide industry has been able to expand the consumption of the preoxidized PAN fiber.

Consequently NTT had to grow its capacity with the same pace and resolved to increase it by another 500 tons per year, setting up a new production line that is finally coming to be operational.