Carbon fibre is in demand across a range of industries due to its superior strength and durability. CSIRO's RAFT process provides a way to cost-effectively produce high-performance carbon fibre.
Technology
- Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) form the basis of precursor polymers (white fibre) used to make carbon fibre. Properties of this white fibre determine 80 per cent of the ultimate performance of carbon fibres and have a significant impact on processing performance and production costs
- CSIRO's RAFT process can be used to make the PAN precursor polymer (white fibre) for carbon fibre. RAFT allows for improved level of control in functionality, specificity, molecular structure and weight and purity in the PAN
- The result, after PAN is converted to C fibre, is a stronger carbon fibre
- Demonstrated manufacture of PAN spun into white fibre and carbonised to make carbon fibre
- Demonstrated higher strength in 80 filament fibres
- Scaled up to commercial fibres at CSIRO Waurn Ponds site.
Applications
- Aerospace and defence
- Automotive
- Wind turbines
- Sport and leisure.
Intellectual property
Several patents covering process of making PAN using RAFT.
The team
Located at the Waurn Ponds Campus, the team comprises polymer scientists and engineers who has access to facilities that span the entire carbon fibre value chain.