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

alzenau@epc.com

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

michael.zanner@epc.com

Mr. Karol Kerrane | Business Development Manager

karol.kerrane@epc.com

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)