LightFibre – Lignin-based carbon fibres from solution spun prefibres
Research Project, 2016 – 2019

Kraft lignin, a by-product from pulp production, is used as an energy source in the mill. It can also be separated and used for carbon fibre production. This light-weight material can decrease the fuel consumption in the transportation sector. However the demand for carbon fibre is restricted due to expensive fossil raw materials, opening for new business opportunities for the forest industry. In LightFibre lignin will be converted to a competitive carbon fibre; a new value-added product. In the pre-study PreFiber lignin and cellulose was dissolved and co-spun to flexible fibres and converted to carbon fibres of good quality. Solvent spinning does not relay on lignins’ thermal properties as other spinning processes. In LightFibre fundamental mechanisms for the main steps of the process will be explored to reach the goals on quality, yield and processing time. The 3-year project will be carried out at Swerea IVF and Innventia with 2 licentiates in cooperation with Chalmers and KTH.

Participants

Hans Theliander (contact)

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Collaborations

Innventia

Stockholm, Sweden

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Stockholm, Sweden

SCA Forest Products

Sundsvall, Sweden

Swerea

Kista, Sweden

Valmet

Tampere, Finland

Funding

Swedish Energy Agency

Project ID: 39573-2
Funding Chalmers participation during 2016–2019

Related Areas of Advance and Infrastructure

Sustainable development

Driving Forces

Publications

More information

Latest update

2020-09-15