FutureFibre

From spaceships to golf clubs and jumbo jets to family hatchbacks, carbon fibre is vital in producing a range of products where mechanical performance and weight reduction are essential requirements.

However, carbon fibre production requires significant amounts of fossil fuels and energy, with temperatures of up to 1000°C needed to create the fibre material. It's also costly, with carbon fibre up to 10 times as expensive as steel.

With a climate crisis solution is high on the agenda for many manufacturers, the search for an eco-friendlier alternative to traditional fibre is on.

The project

FutureFibre is a collaborative research and development project being run by the team at the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre combining the experience of academics and industry professionals and the infrastructure and resources needed to delve deeper into alternatives to the traditional fibre manufacturing process.

Through a dual approach of improving the green credentials of the production process and employing new methods of recycling existing carbon fibre materials, FutureFibre aims to deliver an effective, lightweight solution with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.