Nov 05, 2018
New carbon fiber laboratory opened in Dresden as part of the Research Center Carbon Fibers
Stabilization and carbonization plant at RCCF carbon fiber laboratory
On November 2nd 2018, an official ceremony was held to inaugurate the carbon fiber laboratory as part of the Research Center Carbon Fibers (RCCF) by Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, Saxony´s State Minister for Arts and Science, Prof. Gerhard Rödel, Vice- Rector for Research at Technische Universität Dresden, Prof. Hubert Jäger, and Prof. Chokri Cherif.
The RCCF is a joint scientific institution led by the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) and the Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM) at TU Dresden and was founded to thoroughly investigate carbon fibers – from raw fiber material to final component –, thus unveiling novel properties and potential applications.
“Saxony provides an excellent environment for the prospering of key technologies, such as materials engineering and nanosciences, and is home to highly motivated researchers employed at our universities and scientific institutions that are absolutely unique in their specification.” says State Minister Dr. Stange. “Nearly all materials classes including metals, polymers, ceramics as well as composites and natural materials are scientifically studied at the highest international level. Interdisciplinary relationships have been established between basic and applied research in numerous sectors, forming close-knit development chains and enabling transfers to the economy – on regional, national, and international levels."
State Minister Dr. Stange, Vice-Rector Prof. Rödel, Prof. Cherif, and Prof. Gude cutting the red ribbon at the inauguration ceremony of the laboratory.
The Vice-Rector for Research of TU Dresden, Prof. Gerhard Rödel, added, “This carbon fiber laboratory as part of the Research Center Carbon Fibers constitutes a worldwide unique machinery generating new possibilities. Its main objective consists in the design of fibers with a particularly high degree of customization – suited to different requirements and areas of application.”
By means of this currently installed, unique system, RCCF researchers can explore the fundamentals of customized carbon fibers under clean-room conditions and tap into their enormous innovation potential. Therefore, individual system modules will be employed for stabilization and carbonization based on an industrial furnace design and specifically adjustable parameter combinations. Due to their extraordinary degree of purity, these carbon fibers will be suitable for use in aerospace and automotive industries.
Official inauguration ceremony at the carbon fiber laboratory.
“Carbon fiber is the steel of the 21st century” explains Prof. Hubert Jäger, speaker of the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK). “Entire sectors are currently reinventing themselves based on this material and accomplish previously unachieved dimensions with their products. However, availability poses an issue. This carbon fiber laboratory will facilitate this material´s availability in Saxony and beyond and enhance its customized application potential.”
“By putting this carbon fiber laboratory into operation under clean-room conditions, the RCCF is now enabled to extend its process chain for the manufacture of tailored carbon fibers. Required machine technologies in addition to previously elaborated know-how in terms of process optimization for the production procedure of precursor fibers, which are the basic material for innovative stabilization and carbonization lines, are provided by the ITM to be used for future research projects performed by RCCF scientists. Therefore, this lab gives the initial impetus for further basic and application-oriented research in the field of carbon fibers in Dresden – a prime location for world-class research.” adds Prof. Chokri Cherif, ITM director and head of the Chair of Textile Technology.
The carbon fiber laboratory offers a clean room larger than 300 m² of class ISO 8. In addition to stabilization and carbonization lines with a length of over 30 m, there are areas available for future add-ons to the machinery, such as a high-temperature furnace, where carbon fibers can be graphitized at temperatures above 2000 °C, or coating systems for surface activation.
RCCF scientists explore interactions between process parameters, fiber structure, and further mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties that may occur during carbon fiber production to further increase the potential of this high-tech material. Moreover, researchers focus on the development of multifunctional fibers with innovative property profiles, e.g. high conductivity accompanied by high strength or large deformability, and the potential use of renewable raw materials.
Another focus of RCCF activities will be on the profound education of our students in the field of carbon fiber manufacturing. Students will gain in-depth knowledge on the production and processing of carbon fibers, enabling them to become an active part of Saxony´s and Germany´s sector of future technologies. Each year, approximately 15 students join the research fields of process management, modeling, and control as well as development, manufacturing, and characterization of innovative carbon fibers and composite materials.