CarboMat transforms low-value industrial byproducts, such as asphaltenes, into high-value carbon fibers. These carbon fibers are engineered for advanced applications, including 3D printing of composite structures.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
The high cost of traditional PAN-based carbon fiber production, driven by expensive precursor materials, limits its widespread adoption across various industries. Additionally, conventional carbon fiber manufacturing processes are energy-intensive and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Solution
CarboMat addresses these challenges by transforming low-value industrial byproducts, specifically oil sands asphaltenes, into high-value, low-cost carbon fibers. Utilizing a modified melt spinning technique, CarboMat's process significantly reduces both the production cost and the environmental impact associated with carbon fiber manufacturing. The technology involves pre-processing asphaltenes, melting the precursor in a closed reactor under controlled temperature and pressure, and extruding thin filaments through a spinneret. These filaments are then subjected to post-processing steps to create carbon fibers suitable for diverse applications.
Target Audience
CarboMat's primary customers include composite material manufacturers, the automotive industry, the aerospace sector, and companies in the sports and leisure industries seeking affordable, high-performance carbon fiber solutions.
Features
- Modified melt spinning technology using oil sands asphaltenes as a precursor
- Up to 60% reduction in carbon fiber production costs compared to PAN-based methods
- Approximately 50% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions relative to conventional carbon fiber processes
- Capability to produce carbon fibers with diameters of approximately 10-15 µm
- Lab services for material testing, including optical microscopy, grinder polishing, and melt spinning
- Melt Spinner X3: AT225 Laboratory Melt Spinning Machine designed for small-scale fiber production and research applications.
- Optical Microscope: high-resolution microscope equipped with X-polarization and transmission capabilities, delivering up to 50x magnification
- Grinder Polisher: EcoMet 30 Manual Grinder Polisher used to mount and prepare samples, particularly in powder form, for microscopy by embedding them in epoxy resin and achieving a smooth surface through grinding and polishing.