The research institutes Innventia and Swerea SICOMP have worked together to develop the first carbon-fibre composite demonstrator based on 100% wood lignin. The lightweight, fuel-efficient car of the future can be made using this material.
Carbon fibre composites are strong and light with many applications, however high-cost is a major limiting factor in its use. By introducing cost-effective lignin-based carbon fibre, the material could also be used in normal cars and other bulk products.
The demonstrator – a sandwich structure in which balsa wood is laminated with carbon fibre – is the first proof that it is possible to manufacture lignin-based carbon fibre, even if this is still only on a laboratory scale.
The production of another demonstrator is already under way to demonstrate a future application within the automotive industry, a model car powered by a lignin-based battery.
Click here for source (Pulpaper News)
Photo: Innventia
