Iowa State researchers turn paper and biofuel coproducts into high-performance carbon fiber
In Iowa, Bioengineer reports researchers at Iowa State University have developed a process to produce high-strength, lightweight carbon fiber using lignin from paper manufacturing and the water-rich fraction of bio-oil from biomass pyrolysis. The material achieved tensile strength of up to 2.45 gigapascals and stiffness of 236 gigapascals, exceeding US Department of Energy targets for automotive applications. The researchers report potential production costs below $5 per pound, while a chemical modification process cuts fiber stabilization time from tens of hours to just two to four hours. A four-year, $2 million National Science Foundation grant will support the transition from laboratory batches to continuous manufacturing, with industry partners helping advance commercialization.
Category: Research
