Output details
12 - Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering
University of Sunderland
Development of Low Cost Carbon Fibre for Automotive Applications
Currently, among real-world automotive material candidates, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites offer unparalleled mechanical performance per unit weight. As such, their ability to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy is similarly unparalleled. This chapter identifies the barriers to CFRP adoption in automotive applications and cites the high cost of the fibre as the largest obstacle to overcome. It then gives a detailed account of the US DoE-sponsored research program, undertaken at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), designed to produce low cost carbon fibre for automotive applications. This is a research project of world-leading innovation and significance.