EPSRC Reference: |
EP/L017679/1 |
Title: |
Manufacturing of High Performance Cellulose Fibres to Replace Glass fibres & Carbon Fibre Precursors |
Principal Investigator: |
Eichhorn, Professor S |
Other Investigators: |
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Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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Project Partners: |
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Department: |
Aerospace Engineering |
Organisation: |
University of Bristol |
Scheme: |
Standard Research |
Starts: |
01 July 2014 |
Ends: |
23 December 2020 |
Value (£): |
2,060,466
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EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
Manufact. Enterprise Ops& Mgmt |
Manufacturing Machine & Plant |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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Related Grants: |
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Panel History: |
Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
24 Oct 2013
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Materials Substitution - Interview Meeting
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
To reduce society's dependence on petroleum based non-renewable polymers, large scale utilization of naturally occurring, abundantly available polymers such as cellulose needs to be developed. One of the major challenges in large scale utilization of cellulose from biomass is dissolution and processing of cellulose to prepare downstream products such as high performance textile fibres. The Viscose method is the most common way to manufacture cellulose fibres; however, it is a complex, multistep process which involves use of very aggressive chemicals and requires a large volume of fresh water. In the 1970s, petroleum based synthetic polymer fibres such as polyester and nylon were commercialised and were proven to be more economical than producing cellulose fibres via the Viscose method. Hence, the production of cellulose fibres was reduced from over 1.3 million tons per year in 1973 to 0.4 million tons per year by 2008 (Source: International Rayon and Synthetic Fibres Committee).
To overcome this issue of processing of cellulose we are proposing to develop an environmentally benign method of manufacturing of high performance cellulose fibres using "Green Solvents". The proposed research will help develop sustainable and high performance cellulose fibres which can in-principle replace heavy glass fibres (which requires high energy during its manufacturing) and non-renewable polymer precursors used for manufacturing of carbon fibres which are widely used in composites for aerospace, auto, sports and wind energy industries in UK and abroad.
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Key Findings |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
Summary |
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Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Project URL: |
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Further Information: |
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Organisation Website: |
http://www.bris.ac.uk |