Carbon Fiber

Spang Power Electronics is a manufacturer of custom power equipment installed throughout the Carbon Fiber Industry. Spang’s application expertise and feature based power control and conversion equipment has enabled us to supply and service the following custom applications.

PAN Precursor Drying

Precursor is the material fed into the carbon fiber process and although a raw material itself, it must also be made. In the PAN precursor process, after the PAN is created, processed, and filtered, the material is extruded to create fine stranded filaments. The filaments will be stretched and washed repeatedly until the properties of the filament strands reach the desired strength grade. During the finishing process, the filament fiber strands are drawn through a series of heated chambers or pass over hot rollers.

Spang Power Electronics provides SCR Controllers and Power Systems to provide highly accurate, controlled power to electric heating elements within the PAN Precursor Drying process for precise temperature control.

Stabilizing – Oxidation Ovens

The stabilizing process chemically alters spun fibers at the atomic level prior to carbonizing. Stabilization is accomplished by heating the fibers in air at lower temperatures (approx. 200-300° C). Heating causes the spun fibers to pick up oxygen molecules. Typically, the stabilization process occurs within electric Oxidation Ovens where the fibers are drawn through a series of heated chambers or pass over hot rollers.

Spang Power Electronics provides SCR Controllers, Transformers, and Power Systems to provide highly accurate, controlled power to electric heating elements within the Oxidation Ovens for precise temperature control.

Carbonizing – Electric Furnaces (LT, HT & UHT)

After fibers are stabilized, the carbonizing process expels non-carbon atoms and bonds carbon atoms in a crystalline structure. Carbonization is accomplished by heating the fibers in two separate furnaces at different temperatures levels (approx. 1,000-3,000° C). Low temperature and high temperature (or ultra high temperature) furnaces are filled with gas that does not contain oxygen keeping the fiber from burning at higher temperatures. Typically, the carbonizing furnaces electrically control temperature with radiant heating elements.

Spang Power Electronics provides SCR Controllers, Transformers, and Power Systems to provide highly accurate, controlled power to electric heating elements within the low temperature (LT), high temperature (HT), and ultra high temperature (UHT) electric furnaces for precise temperature control.

Electric Surface Treatment

After fibers are carbonized, electric surface treatment helps prepare the fibers for bonding to resins. This process improves adhesion by either adding small amounts of oxygen atoms and roughening the surface or electrically coating the fibers. Typically, the electric, drag-through coating process occurs by submersing fibers in a conductive bath in which the fiber acts as the positive terminal while the terminal remains immersed in the aqueous solution.

Spang Power Electronics provides SCR Controllers, Transformers, and Power Systems to provide highly accurate, controlled power for electric surface treatment.