Apr 20, 2016
Excellent research from Saxony: Scientists at TU Dresden establish Research Centre for Carbon Fibres
In the highly innovative field of carbon fibres - as a precondition for many applications in modern lightweight engineering - scientists at TU Dresden are pooling their expertise in a new Research Center Carbon Fibers Saxony (RCCF). The aim is a joint research initiative in the field of tailor-made carbon fibres for future-oriented functional and structural materials. The official foundation will take place on 18 April 2016 at the Institute for Lightweight Construction and Plastics Technology at TU Dresden.
The RCCF combines the competences available at the TU Dresden in the high-tech field of fibre composite lightweight engineering and further expands the leading position of the lightweight engineering location Dresden by concentrating on the future market-dominating technology of tailor-made composites with polymer, ceramic and metallic matrix. To this end, the Institute for Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) and the Institute for Textile Machinery and High-Performance Textile Materials Technology (ITM) are joining forces in a centre where, in future, continuous development chains from the raw fibre material to the finished component will be researched.
The signers of the cooperation agreement for the foundation of the Research Center Carbon Fibers Saxony, Prof. Jäger (ILK) and Prof. Cherif (ITM) shake hands.
The RCCF is intended to consolidate and deepen the existing research of the two institutes. The scientists want to research fossil and renewable resources as source products and develop carbon fibres for new high-performance materials. In addition, the focus will be on the application of the fibres for novel structural and functional materials. The results of the work will be transferred directly into education at the TU Dresden. Furthermore, the participating institutes attach high importance to the transfer of the acquired knowledge into industrial applications.
Prof. Hubert Jäger, a world-renowned expert for carbon fibres and fibre composite technologies, followed the call to the TU Dresden at the end of 2014 and, together with his colleagues at the ILK, is driving forward new developments of carbon fibres from polymeric and renewable raw materials. Jäger draws his knowledge from 28 years of industrial experience at one of the world's leading manufacturers of carbon products and materials, the SGL Group. As part of his professorship for system lightweight engineering and composite design at TU Dresden, he is now researching carbon fibres for applications in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering and systems engineering as well as the future market of building construction.
"With the Research Center Carbon Fibers Saxony, we are building an internationally renowned center of excellence for tailored carbon fibres. To this extent and with this focus, we are creating a unique high-tech cluster in Saxony that will supply state-of-the-art materials and composites for industrial applications and secure the priority of Dresden as a lightweight engineering location in the long term," explains Jäger with a view to the future connection of the renowned research institutes involved.
A first important milestone is the launch of a carbon fibre line. At this research unit, the Dresden scientists can produce carbon fibres with various mechanical properties. In this way, they can identify parameters on a laboratory scale that will be used on production lines in the future. The carbon fibre line will be in operation in June 2016 as part of the 20th International Dresden Lightweight Symposium.
The required equipment for precursor fibre production has already been installed at ITM. Prof. Chokri Cherif, Director of ITM and Professor of Textile Technology: "With the founding of the RCCF and the start of operation of the carbon fibre line, we are providing the initial impetus for further basic and application-oriented research in the field of carbon fibres. We will set a new standard in carbon fibre development and give specific stimuli worldwide".
Contact
Technische Universität Dresden
Institut für Leichtbau und
Kunststofftechnik (ILK)
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hubert Jäger
Tel.: +49 351 / 463 37915
E-Mail:
Technische Universität Dresden
Institut für Textilmaschinen und Textile Hochleistungswerkstofftechnik (ITM)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Dipl.-Wirt. Ing. Chokri Cherif
Tel.: +49 351 / 463 39300
Email: