We are good in flying starts.
Aviation and space travel, automotive industry, mountain bikes, speedskating, wind
power, Formula 1. Nowhere else the speed depends more on weight, material and
performance. For several decades, our team is actively working with the impressive
chemical compounds of polymers as an initial material for carbon fibers. Therefore,
we are able to tailor each planning and start-up of a PAN / Carbon fiber plant to our
clients requirements.
PAN POLYMERIZATION PLANTSPolymerization | Dope Preparation | Solvent Recovery
CARBON FIBER FACTORY DESIGNInfrastructure | Utilities | Civil Engineering
CONTACT
EPC Engineering Consulting GmbH
Siemensstrasse 24 - 26
63755 Alzenau
Germany
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Website:
+49 6023 50170
+49 6023 501717
www.epc.com
The EPC Group is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008
PAN and carbon fiber productionPolymerization of Polyacrylonitrile for precursor production and complete infrastructure for carbon fiber factories
PAN POLYMERIZATION | DOPE PREPARATION | SOLVENT RECOVERY
With regard to the polymerization, two different processes are
generally applied for producing a polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
polymer. For the solution polymerization a solvent is used
dissolving the monomer but also keeping the polymer in
solution. However, the removal of the remaining monomer
and undesired side products is complex. The most advanta-
geous alternative is the precipitation polymerization where
the monomer acrylonitrile is solved in water and the insoluble
PAN polymer is thus precipitating during chain growth.
In water based polymerization a redox system is used to
initiate this interfacial process. It is important for the desired
polymer properties to ensure the correct reaction tempera-
ture and a short polymerization time in order to avoid long-
and short-chain branching side reactions. The reaction is
carried out in special, multi-stage continuously stirred tank
reactors designed by EPC Group.
Since water is used in the liquid phase for dissolving acryloni-
trile the need for poisonous, explosive, and inflammable
organic liquids used in the solution polymerization process is
eliminated and thus environmental pollution will be avoided.
Since the radical polymerization never reaches full conver-
sion, the monomers must be removed and recovered. For
this purpose EPC offers a suitable stripping column. After the
monomer removal the solid polyacrylonitrile will be separated
and dried. A subsequent continuously operating spinning
solution preparation system with kneading, filtration and
degassing steps ensures a high level of consistency and
homogenization. This so-called dope is then pumped at a
uniform flow rate to the spinning bath of the precursor
spinning system, manufactured by Fleissner.
The solvent-water mixture from the spinning bath will be sent
to the solvent recovery where water and solvent will be sepa-
rated. The recovered solvent will be used in the dope prepa-
ration again to save operating costs.
Beside the process design and equipment delivery for PAN
polymerization plants, EPC Group is offering the complete
design of carbon fiber factories including infrastructure,
utilities and civil engineering.
SolventRecovery
RecoveryTank Farm
Wastewater
Acrylo-nitrile
Co-Monomer
RedoxInitiator
Radical Starter
Stabilizer
Acid
Raw MaterialTank Farm M
onom
er P
rep
arat
ion
Pol
ymer
izat
ion
Mon
omer
Str
ipp
ing
Pol
ymer
Sep
arat
ion
Pol
ymer
Dry
ing
Sto
rag
e &
Con
veyi
ng
Dop
e P
rep
arat
ion
Solvent(for Dope)
PrecursorSpinning
CarbonFiber
Solvent /Water
Solvent /Water
100 % Solvent
Base
Acid
Oxi-dation
Carboni-zation
Utilities | Infrastructure | Civil Engineering
For general questions around PAN and carbon fiber plants,
please contact:
Mr. Michael Zanner | Product Manager PAN & CF
Mr. Karol Kerrane | Business Development Manager
CONTACT PERSON
POLYMERIZATIONContinuous stable process for constant PAN qualityLower monomer content in PANFlexible recipes for different CF propertiesReliable equipment, low maintenance costs
DOPE PREPARATIONContinuous filtration and degassingEnvironmental friendly operation and designClosed loop recycling of solvents
SOLVENT RECOVERY
High purity solventsEnergy saving designDifferent designs available for:EC-Ethylene CarbonateDMAC-DimethylacetamideDMF-DimethylformamideDMSO-Dimethylsulfoxide
PAN POLYMERIZATION PROCESS OVERVIEW (EPC`S SCOPE)