A New Approach to Producing Carbon Fiber

New Approach to Carbon Fiber Production

European researchers led by the University of Limerick (UL) in Ireland have launched a project to produce carbon fiber from forestry by-products. Carbon fiber is a reinforcing material that, when added to plastic, improves its mechanical properties and creates a composite material. Composites are used in many products, such as automotive parts and wind turbine blades. However, carbon fiber is currently produced from expensive and environmentally harmful petroleum. The LIBRE project, led by Dr. Maurice Collins at StokesLabs in the Bernal Institute, aims to produce carbon fiber materials in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner by manufacturing them from a wood product naturally derived called 'lignin'. Dr. Collins stated, "Producing carbon fiber from lignin will help us move away from dependence on fossil fuels." Carbon fiber's strength-to-weight ratio offers excellent potential for reducing the weight of products, including vehicles, and thus provides fuel savings. Currently, the high cost of carbon fiber means it is unsuitable for widespread use. The LIBRE project is expected to sufficiently reduce production costs for mass market applications of carbon fiber. This will enable European manufacturers to rely less on imported precursors and imported carbon fiber, making it possible to establish a domestic and sustainable European carbon fiber production base.

Dr. Collins stated, "LIBRE project partners will create innovative new materials and production processes that will reduce the cost of final products by 30 percent, with a carbon footprint half that of current carbon fiber production."

Patrick Barrett, from Bio-Based Industries' Agriculture, Food and Maritime and National Contact Point, said, "The award received by Dr. Maurice Collins under the Bio-Based Industries Public Private Partnership is an excellent example of Irish academic talent working with industry to develop high-value products through the use of forestry by-products. This work is beneficial to business diversification, offering opportunities for business, growth and investment in the Irish economy. This project will reduce the need for fossil fuels by using bio-based alternatives such as forestry by-products." Irish wind energy company Eirecomposites and automotive manufacturer Fiat will be among the end users of these products, which are expected to reach the market within four years. Dr. Terry McGrail, Director of the Irish Composites Center (IComp), said, "As of 2016, the global market for composite materials was worth USD 80 billion, achieving an average compound annual growth rate of approximately 7 percent across various sectors, including automotive, construction and aviation. These growing composite markets offer many opportunities for Irish companies, and the Enterprise Ireland Technology Centre program provides significant support to the industry through IComp." The LIBRE project is coordinated by Dr. Collins at the University of Limerick and works in collaboration with European partners from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Italy. The project received support of EUR 4.9 million funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking. This grant is provided under the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.