Low-cost blended carbon fibre yarns and fabrics

A multi-partner UK project, Fibrecycle, has developed a new generation of high-performance, low-cost co-mingled carbon fibre yarns and fabrics, with funding support from the Technology Strategy Board.

The yarns and fabrics are blended carbon/polyethylene terephthalate (PET), manufactured from virgin recovered carbon fibre that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

These new materials are said to have almost 100% of the stiffness of virgin materials, but can be offered at a lower cost than similar products currently available on the market.

In common with other co-mingled and blended materials, the fabrics are simply placed in a mould tool under pressure and passed through a heating and cooling cycle.