ORNL licenses carbon fibre production technology

The ORNL/RMX plasma processing technology has a new approach to the oxidation stage of carbon fiber production in which polymer materials are oxidized before carbonization. During oxidation, the thermoplastic precursor is converted to a thermoset material that can no longer be melted. Oxidation is the most time-consuming phase of the multistep carbon fibre conversion process.

“In conventional systems, it generally takes between 80 and 120 minutes for oxidation. We found a way to cut the time by a factor of 2.5 to 3 times, so we can process fiber in 25 to 35 minutes,” said ORNL co-inventor Felix Paulauskas.

Compared to conventional oxidation techniques, the team’s plasma oxidation technology reduces unit energy consumption by 75 per cent and lowers production costs by 20 per cent, while maintaining or improving the resulting carbon fibre quality. Plasma oxidation can be used to produce all grades of carbon fibre from low-end industrial to high-end aerospace grades.

“We are commercialising this technology with our industrial partners to manufacture low-cost carbon fibre and create quality jobs. Through our partnership with ORNL, we have proven 75 per cent energy savings, we make a quality fibre, and the equipment uses less than half the space,” said Rodney Grubb, president RMX Technologies.

“Commercialisation of this technology can accelerate the use of carbon fibre in the auto industry and expand into other areas where strong and lightweight materials provide benefits,” said Truman Bonds, RMX Technologies vice president for research and development. (NA)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India