RMX Technologies is commercializing a patented plasma oxidation technology through its subsidiary 4M Industrial Oxidation that can lower carbon fiber manufacturing costs by 20%. The technology provides 75% greater energy savings and 3x higher throughput compared to conventional oxidation methods. A multi-year joint development with Oak Ridge National Laboratory resulted in successful operation of a 1 ton plasma oxidation oven. 4M is now working to demonstrate a 175 ton oven to the carbon fiber industry with the goal of producing and selling carbon fiber for $7 per pound with a strength of 600 ksi within 24 months.

1. Market Ready Plasma Oxidation
75% Unit Energy Savings with 3X Greater Throughput
and Better Properties

2. RMX Technologies
The mission of RMX Technologies is to generate high value intellectual property
in the material science technology sector that solves difficult problems faced by
today’s material users.
We accomplish this by combining our plasma and materials science expertise
with our experience in product development to create clean economical and
scalable solutions for industry.

3. 4M Industrial Oxidation
 4M Industrial Oxidation (a subsidiary of RMX Technologies) is commercializing
a patented and proven technology that can lower carbon fiber manufacturing cost
by 20%.
 4M will manufacture and sell plasma components and the control system for each
Plasma Oven sold by Litzler. Each oven will be sold with a 4M technology license
for the use of the patented Plasma Oxidation technology.

4.  A multi-year joint development effort between RMX and ORNL that was funded by
the Department of Energy/Vehicle Technologies.
 Culminated in the successful operation of the 1 aMT Plasma Oxidation Oven.
 All development work is complete.
 All IP is jointly owned.
2004 – First Benchtop
Plasma Oxidation Device 2014 – 1 aMT Plasma Oxidation Oven
The Oxidation Oven – Development Complete

5.  Plasma Oxidation is a proven technology. Compared to conventional
oxidation, plasma oxidation:
 Makes a better product
 Is 3 times as fast
 Uses less than 25% of the energy per pound of fiber
 Takes up significantly less space (1/3 size)
 Reduces carbon fiber manufacturing cost by 20%
The Oxidation Oven – Proven Performance

6. The Oxidation Oven – Proven Performance
Client Oxidation
Rate
Increase
Oxidation
Energy
Savings
Carbon Fiber
Properties
Precursor Type
DOE 2.7X 77% Comparable 4x48k
Commodity-
PAN
Client 1 3X 86% Comparable Proprietary
Commodity-
PAN
Client 2 5X Batch Comparable Proprietary
Lignin
Client 3* 1X 78% Better Proprietary
Aerospace-PAN
Dralon* 2.5X 42% OPF-Comparable 1x57.6k
Textile-PAN
*Preliminary trials only – more work required to determine optimal results

7. The Oxidation Oven – Highly Scalable
1500 aMT Plasma Oxidation Oven

8. The Oxidation Oven - Commercialization
 Plasma oxidation performance is proven with multiple carbon fiber
manufacturers’ precursors and we are now testing Dralon’s textile PAN.
 Guidance from multiple manufacturers have defined the equipment scale
needed to validate commercial use – 175 aMT (carbon fiber).
Manufacturers have strong interest in buying production-scale equipment
once performance is validated at this scale.
 Therefore 4M was created and a four-phase commercialization plan
was established and implemented earlier this year.

9. The Commercialization Plan - Goals
Scale the technology by building a 175 aMT-CF Plasma Oxidation Oven.
Integrate this oven into an OPF conversion line at same scale to demonstrate
the technology to the carbon fiber industry and produce and sell OPF in 24
months.
Sell licensed production-scale ovens through partner Litzler.
Develop high-strength low-cost precursor through partner Dralon specifically
tailored for plasma oxidation.
1
2
3
4

10. The Commercialization Plan - Phases
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
The smallest replicable section of
the 175 aMT oven will be
constructed and tested to optimize
design and functionality.
Lessons learned from Phase I will
be used to construct the next
replicable size step up that will
allow complete optimization.
Experience gained in Phase I and
Phase II will be used to complete
the fully operational 175 aMT
Plasma Oxidation Oven.
Sustained operation of the full scale
oven will commence to demonstrate
the technology to the industry and to
produce and sell OPF.

11. The Results – 175 aMT Plasma Oxidation Oven
Plasma Inside!

12. The Results – 1500 aMT Oxidation
Plasma Oxidation Oven
Conventional Oven

13. The Results – 1500 aMT Oxidation
Plasma Oxidation Oven
Conventional Oven

14. The Results – 1500 aMT Conversion

15. The Results – 600 ksi $7/lb. Fiber in 24 Months
 600 ksi carbon fiber costing $7/lb. is possible in 24 months.
 How?
 Dralon stated they could develop a low-cost precursor
yielding 500 ksi carbon fiber with conventional conversion.
 Our 1 aMT oven demonstrated higher carbon fiber
mechanical properties over conventional oxidation.
 A recent paper1 showed an increase of 30% in carbon
fiber tensile strength using plasma over conventional
oxidation.
 600 ksi is achievable from a low cost precursor whose
chemistry is specifically tailored to our plasma oxidation
process.
1Lee, et al. Efficient preparation of carbon fibers using plasma assisted stabilization. Carbon, 55, 361 (2013).
400
450
500
550
600
650
Conventional Plasma
TensileStrength,ksi
Dralon
20%Increase

16. Commercialization Partners
• Selling ovens for 60 years and has
installed many carbon fiber
production lines.
• Will fabricate and sell Plasma
Oxidation ovens to Carbon Fiber
Producers that include a 4M
technology license.
• Market growth will require many
new Carbon Fiber production lines
and ovens in the next decade.
• An established textile acrylic fiber
supplier.
• 4M and Dralon are co-developing
a low-cost carbon fiber precursor
specifically tailored to 4M’s
plasma oxidation process.
• Market growth will require new
precursor types that presently do
not exist.

17. The Opportunity
Carbon Fiber
Manufacturer
End User

18. The Opportunity
What would help:
• Expertise – Technical, sales,
business, project support, etc.
• Resources – build it, test it,
procure it, facilities, equipment,
transportation, etc.
What you could get:
• Low cost fiber ahead of competition
• Operating parameters for your precursor
• Valuable process trade secrets
• Royalty preferences
• Input & participation in scale-up program
• Installation, operations, maintenance,
improvements head start over
competition
• Early access to ovens and fiber
• Preferred access to next generation
ovens
• Potential exclusive use of the technology

19. Conclusion
 The commercialization of plasma oxidation has already begun.
 A 175 aMT plasma oxidation oven will be successfully
demonstrated in less than 24 months.
 600 ksi carbon fiber costing $7/lb. is possible in 24 months.
 There is a window of opportunity for end users and carbon fiber
manufacturers to become strategic partners of 4M to accelerate
this timetable.
 Check us out at www.4mio.com

20. Truman Bonds, Vice President for R&D
tbonds@rmxtechnologies.net
865-777-2741
Contacts
Dick Nixdorf, Chairman
dnixdorf@rmxtechnologies.net
865-719-5519
Rod Grubb, President
rgrubb@rmxtechnologies.net
865-599-7762