Smart materials reply on composite components to offer the range of desired properties, yet in some ways current manufacturing processes have not developed since the late 1960s. The FIBRALSPEC project sought to bring these more up-to-date, addressing sustainability concerns, while enhancing performance.
The design of composite structures, especially those using carbon fibres, has enabled engineers to push the boundaries of production towards materials with vastly improved properties and at reduced cost. Yet, after more than five decades of research and the establishment of a growing industry manufacturing a multitude of applications, there is a need for new green precursors (the raw materials used to make the fibres), which can offer an alternative to the current industry standard of petroleum.
Further details: Carbon fibres from ‘green’ precursors and optimized processes