Carbon fiber is a high-value product whose exceptional properties (lightweight and high strength) make it an increasingly sought-after material. Although carbon fibers can be manufactured from various precursors, over 98 percent of the global supply is currently made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with pitch being the next most common precursor. The cost of production via those two routes for plants located in the United States, Western Europe, Japan and China has been estimated for the first quarter of 2023. NexantECA also provided a high-level analysis of the business and strategic considerations and commented on the technology availability from the perspective of a company entering or expanding into the carbon fiber market. Global carbon fiber and carbon nanotube capacities are also detailed.

Polyglycolic acid (PGA), also known as polyglycolide is a biodegradable, thermoplastic polyester polymer and the simplest of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) class of polyesters possible.

E-waste is the world’s fastest growing and most valuable waste stream. An estimated $62.5 billion USD worth of precious metals from electronics are landfilled and incinerated annually while less than 20 percent of the world’s e-waste is captured through formal recycling channels. This TECH report provides the technological, economic, and market dynamics of the formal electronic recycling industry. This report also examines the status and trajectory of electronic recycling across each continent and the key policies and initiatives shaping the future of e-waste. An economic model for a standard industrial e-waste recycling plant in the United States is also provided.

This report is a comprehensive analysis of the polyester polyol industry. The analysis provides cost of production estimates for the major types of polyester polyols as well as formulations and estimated raw materials cost for varying feedstocks. To introduce the commercial aspect of the industry, a review of the market, applications and the overall value chain is made. A carbon intensity analysis including scope 1 and 2 emissions outlines the environmental impact of the technologies.