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.