TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY
Carbon fiber is used due to its high stiffness and strength, but is traditionally expensive and limited to aerospace and high end performance applications. Wide tow low cost carbon fiber provides high stiffness at low cost widening the applications for carbon fiber in a broad range of non-aerospace applications.
AREA/MATURITY/AWARDS
Primary Application Area: Energy, Infrastructure, Resilience
Technology Development Status: Proven Manufacturability
Technology Readiness Level: TRL 5
Vetted Programs/Awards: Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)- Manufacturing USA (MUSA) institute, www.iacmi.org; Technology Roadmap
GOVT/EXTERNAL FUNDING SOURCES
External Funding to Date: Several projects in composites lightweighting in collaboration with the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,