"World's top league in carbon fiber research": Chemnitz University of Technology receives around six million euros in federal funding to develop a unique research and value-added infrastructure for "green" carbon fibers

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action supports Chemnitz University of Technology in the establishment and expansion of the Carbon LabFactory as a branch of the university in Boxberg/Oberlausitz

In the future, Chemnitz University of Technology will take on a global leadership role in researching "green" carbon fibers and developing a value chain for carbon materials. For establishing and expanding the Carbon LabFactory as a branch of Chemnitz University of Technology, the university received a grant of 5.87 million euros from the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). The funds are provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the program "Strengthening the Transformation Dynamics and Awakening in the Coal-Mining Region and at Coal-Fired Power Plant Locations" (Stärkung der Transformationsdynamik und Aufbruch in den Revieren und an den Kohlekraftwerkstandorten – STARK), which supports the transformation process to an innovative economic structure in coal-mining regions.

The project is based at the Professorship of Lightweight Structures/Polymer Technology (Head: Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll) at Chemnitz University of Technology. In addition to Chemnitz University of Technology, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) in Potsdam is involved. The entire value chain, from raw material extraction and processing, through materials and processes, to structures and systems on a pilot line scale, is being researched as part of the Carbon LabFactory and the InnoCarbEnergy project. Thanks to this innovative profile, Chemnitz University of Technology with its new branch is one of the global pioneers. Comparable facilities exist only in the USA and Australia.

During the handover ceremony, Thomas Schmidt, Saxon State Minister for Regional Development, spoke of an important step towards Saxony's leading role in carbon fiber research: "This will put the Free State of Saxony in the global top league in carbon fiber research. Comparable pilot plants are currently only in operation in Victoria, Australia, and North Carolina in the USA. I am delighted for Lusatia and the community of Boxberg that another step is now possible on the road to the carbon fiber lightweight construction of the future. The development of application-oriented research is crucial for the future of jobs in Lusatia. In Boxberg, a research center for 'green', cost-effective, tailor-made, and sustainable carbon fibers is being created that is unique in Europe. I congratulate Professor Lothar Kroll's team for achieving this important interim goal and wish all those involved every success for further development."

Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, President of Chemnitz University of Technology: "The Carbon LabFactory is the third branch of Chemnitz University of Technology for the time being - in addition to the Smart Rail Connectivity Campus in Annaberg-Buchholz and the Refrigeration and Energy Technology Research Platform in Reichenbach in the Vogtland region. This shows that Chemnitz University of Technology not only makes outstanding contributions to research and teaching, but also to the transfer to the economy, society, and the region - and in doing so addresses extremely important future topics and establishes international lighthouse projects. I sincerely congratulate my colleague Mr. Kroll and his team and wish them every success in establishing and expanding the Carbon LabFactory."

Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll, Director of the Institute of Lightweight Structures and Head of the Professorship of Lightweight Structures andPolymer Technology (SLK) at Chemnitz University of Technology: "With this project, we are not only making an important contribution with great potential for the transformation process in Lusatia, but above all for technological progress in global climate protection. Chemnitz University of Technology is establishing a new and unique field of research with the creation of the Carbon LabFactory branch in Boxberg, Saxony. This facility will not only conduct carbon fiber research, but also develop and test downstream textile and plastics processing processes on a pilot line scale."

Dr. Mario Naumann, Research Project Associate at the SLK Professorship: "We must succeed in mastering this complex and new technology on a pilot scale. Then we can also successfully transfer the technology to industry."

Chemnitz University of Technology branch in Upper Lusatia to become incubator for lightweight structures and products of the future

The Carbon LabFactory as a branch of Chemnitz University of Technology in Boxberg/Upper Lusatia sees itself as a nucleus for the settlement of companies in Lusatia in order to sustainably shape the climate-friendly transformation of the region from the coal economy to a self-supporting bioeconomy on the basis of future-oriented lightweight construction technologies together with the economy.

The project team led by Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll has set itself the goal of exploring new avenues for lightweight structures and products of the future, as well as developing downstream processes to market maturity in accompanying collaborations and projects.

The current industrial production of carbon fibers largely relies on petrochemical materials and energy-intensive processes. The project team is exploring alternative methods using renewable raw materials like cellulose, in combination with renewable energy sources such as solar power and "green" hydrogen. These methods will be tested using technology demonstrators.

The findings on "green" carbon fibers obtained in numerous basic studies - especially within the Cluster of Excellence MERGE - are being applied. The focus is primarily on technical textiles, plastics processing, and carbon fiber-intensive technologies.

The research team led by Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll is now beginning - together with the Free State of Saxony - with the detailed design of the future research site. In addition to the consumption funds from the federal government, investment funds of around 60 million euros have been budgeted for facilities and the building infrastructure to establish the Carbon LabFactory by 2026.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll, Head of the SLK Professorship, tel. 0371 531-13910, e-mail slk@mb.tu-chemnitz.de, and Dr. Mario Naumann, Research Associate at the SLK Professorship, tel. 0371 531-38758, e-mail mario.naumann@mb.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Dr. Mario Neumann / Translation: Brent Benofsky)

Matthias Fejes
13.12.2022

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