Materials News

Funding to develop carbon fibres

Due to their unique properties, carbon fibres are in even greater demand as substitutes for traditional materials because of the rising cost of raw materials and energy. In the aerospace and defense industries, particularly high standards are placed on carbon fibres in terms of quality and processing.

This is why respective work stages spanning from base polymer to the raw material, to carbon fibre production and the final composite products have to be in alignment. Precursors comprising polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibres are the raw material needed for carbon fibre production and important for determining quality.

EPG, based in Germany, was founded at the end of 2006 as a joint venture between SGL and Lenzing. The objective of the company is to develop and supply carbon fibre precursor exclusively for SGL Group and European production.

Since the establishment of the joint venture, both parties have jointly invested EUR25 million in a facility that serves industrial applications, particularly for use in the automotive engineering and wind energy sectors. This joint venture secures SGL's long-term supply of raw materials for carbon fibre production for these applications.