Specialty chemicals and materials supplier Cytec Industries (Tempe, Arizona / USA; www.cytec.com) has announced a series of investments designed to reinforce its position in the market for carbon fibre-based composite materials in aerospace applications. Principally, it is to restart a polyacrylonitrile-based (PAN-based) carbon fibre manufacturing programme at its Piedmont, South Carolina / USA facility, which originally had been scheduled to go on stream in late 2010. The project had been postponed in late 2008 as a result of the economic crisis – see Plasteurope.com of 28.04.2009. At that point, Cytec had already invested USD 66m in the plant and put further construction on hold to ensure group liquidity. Aside from additional capacity, the latest investment will include precursor manufacturing and carbonisation facilities. Construction is planned to be completed by the end of 2013, with industrial fibre production expected in 2015 and aerospace-qualified production scheduled for 2016.

In Greenville, Texas / USA, Cytec is going to increase its prepreg manufacturing capacity. The project includes a building expansion and associated infrastructure to support a new impregnation line that will raise the site’s prepreg capacity by 20%. Commercial production in the new facility is expected to begin in 2015.

In a third project, Cytec is increasing capacity for KM polymer – an important raw material used in the production of certain prepregs – at its site in Michigan / USA. The first phase of this programme, which will increase capacity by 25%, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. A second phase that will double capacity is planned for early 2014.

No investment details for any of the three projects have been released, although Cytec did say that the new carbon fibre plant will lift total output by 50%, which would translate into another 1,500 t/y. Most of the output will go towards meeting the growing demand from the “Joint Strike Fighter", new Boeing programmes, such as 787 and 747, plus new Bombardier programmes.

“Aerospace manufacturers are increasingly turning to composite materials to reduce aircraft weight and improve fuel efficiency,” commented Bill Wood, president of the company's Engineered Materials business. “Our investments in carbon fibre and prepreg show our commitment to supporting the industry growth by optimising supply capability for our customers.”

Earlier this year, Cytec Industries agreed to buy composite materials provider Umeco (Leamington Spa / UK; www.umeco.com) for GBP 274m (EUR 334m) in cash – see Plasteurope.com of 26.04.2012. At the time, it said the transaction would enhance its position as a technology leader in advanced composite materials and expand its presence in both aerospace and industrial applications.