A new carbon fiber is being developed thanks to a partnership between Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, carbon fiber manufacturing pioneer Connie Jackson, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The new venture hopes to produce cost-effective, lightweight, environmentally sound carbon fiber to the transportation, renewable energy, and infrastructure markets.
A process developed by Jackson and a research team at Oak Ridge’s carbon fiber technology facility will reduce production costs by more than half, relative to the lowest-cost industrial-grade carbon fiber, according to a LeMond statement. This new production method also reduces energy consumed during production by up to 60 percent.
“We can provide the advantage of our carbon fiber to many industries by improving strength, stiffness, and weight reduction,” said Jackson, LeMond’s chief executive officer. “If you imagine replacing steel, aluminum, and fiberglass with our carbon fiber, you begin to understand the scope of the potential market. Our process will have global applications, and we are ready to move forward with scaling the technology.”
The first commercially available product is on target for the first quarter of 2018.
LeMond hopes to expand its campus by building its first carbon fiber production line at its Oak Ridge, Tenn., facility.
“Our close proximity to ORNL adds a value beyond measure, and we are looking to future collaborations with them,” said LeMond. “Additionally, with the input of the University of Tennessee, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, and the emerging composites corridor, I believe the Knoxville area will become the world hub for carbon fiber in the future. On a personal note, the bike riding in this area is incredible.”
Filed Under: Materials • advanced