Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), a leading manufacturer of acrylonitrile monomer, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor and PAN-based carbon fibers, announced on Nov. 28, 2007, the introduction of a new PAN-based carbon fiber called PYROFIL P330. The P330 series has the same properties as the TRH50 fiber, one of Mitsubishi Rayon’s high-strength carbon fibers, but it will have an increased filament count of 50K to 60K. Mitsubishi claims the P330 series will have better processability compared with tow of similar size and will offer the additional benefits of higher strength and higher modulus. The Mitsubishi Rayon Group, which also produces carbon fiber prepreg and finished prod-ucts, such as golf shafts, through an integrated production system, says it will market P330 products to manufacturers of wind turbine blades, automotive parts, pressure vessels and other large structures. The company says the new fiber will enhance the conversion of carbon fiber into midstream material (i.e., prepregs, preforms) and to direct processing methods (i.e., filament winding, pultrusion, etc.). Target sales revenue for the new material is $50 million (USD) in 2010.