For the first time, Australia will have the capacity to produce carbon fibres at scaled-up level. A wet spinning line has been installed at Waurn Pounds, Australia that will enable to carry out carbon fibre research starting from molecules to fully finished components.
Dr Anita Hill, Director of Future Industries at Australia’s premier research organisation, CSIRO stated that the carbon fibre research capability could disrupt the carbon fibre industry. Using the CSIRO patented carbon fibre technology, the carbon fibre facility will help Australia to develop next generation high performance carbon fibres.
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In praising the industry-academia partnership, Professor Jane den Hollander, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University stated that Australia would benefit with the collaboration. The wet spinning capability develops strands of thin fibres, which are thinner than human hair, which are then carbonized. According to CSIRO, an Italian company, with research inputs from Deakin and CSIRO researchers, built the wet spinning line.
CSIRO has had longstanding research reputation in the field of fibres and textiles. Deakin University in recent times has been extremely active in fibre research focusing on high performance and next generation fibrous materials.
By: Seshadri Ramkumar, Texas Tech University, USA