What if carbon fibres could be made of a renewable raw material instead of oil? What if this new raw material could be available in large quantities?

 

Lignin is a by-product in a kraft mill that has a great potential to become a source for carbon fibres. Through a biorefinery concept, kraft lignin can be available in large quantities. With such a raw material as lignin, the price of carbon fibres could be lowered and the volume of production could increase considerably. Carbon fibres are made in several steps from a carbon containing fibre through stabilisation, carbonisation and sometimes also graphitisation.

 

At Innventia, research activities are going to develop suitable properties of kraft lignin to be used as raw material for making carbon fibres of commercial quality.

 

 

The first lignin fibre intended for carbonisation was produced at Innventia in 2008.