Carbon fiber production costing: a modular approach

Carbon fiber is expected to increase its importance as a lightweight substitute material. The significant market potential in the automotive industry is strongly dependent on carbon fiber cost. A decrease of about 50% from the present cost level of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers is need...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Textile research journal 2016-01, Vol.86 (2), p.178-190
Main Authors: Ellringmann, Tim, Wilms, Christian, Warnecke, Moritz, Seide, Gunnar, Gries, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automobile industry
Carbon fiber reinforcement
Carbon fibers
Cost structure
Marketing
Markets
Modular
Polymerization
Raw materials
Studies
Textiles
Weight reduction
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Carbon fiber is expected to increase its importance as a lightweight substitute material. The significant market potential in the automotive industry is strongly dependent on carbon fiber cost. A decrease of about 50% from the present cost level of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers is needed. This ambitious target is only achievable with high-cost transparency in the production chain. This paper reviews published cost models and identifies the need for a consistent methodology and transparency over input parameters. A new cost model with a modular structure covering all process steps by cost type and disclosing all process parameter assumptions is introduced. The most cost-intense steps are polymerization, including raw material (25%), carbonization (22%) and fiber washing after coagulation (19%). Most important cost types are energy (34%), raw material (19%) and capital costs for equipment (18%). The high-cost share of 54% for carbon fiber PAN precursor is consistent with most reviewed models.
ISSN:0040-5175
1746-7748
DOI:10.1177/0040517514532161