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Title: Global Carbon Fiber Composites Supply Chain Competitiveness Analysis

Abstract

This study identifies key opportunities in the carbon fiber supply chain where the United States Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy resources and investments can help the United States achieve or maintain a competitive advantage. The report focuses on four application areas--wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and pressure vessels--that top the list of industries using carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced polymers and are also particularly relevant to EERE's mission. For each of the four application areas, the report addresses the supply and demand trends within that sector, supply chain, and costs of carbon fiber and components, all contributing to a competitiveness assessment that addresses the United States' role in future industry growth. This report was prepared by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee for the Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1260138
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP-6A50-66071; ORNL/SR-2016/100
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 42 ENGINEERING; carbon fiber; CEMAC; manufacturing; clean energy; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; wind; aerospace; auto; pressure vessels; industry; supply chain

Citation Formats

Das, Sujit, Warren, Josh, West, Devin, and Schexnayder, Susan M. Global Carbon Fiber Composites Supply Chain Competitiveness Analysis. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.2172/1260138.
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Das, Sujit, Warren, Josh, West, Devin, & Schexnayder, Susan M. Global Carbon Fiber Composites Supply Chain Competitiveness Analysis. United States. doi:10.2172/1260138.
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Das, Sujit, Warren, Josh, West, Devin, and Schexnayder, Susan M. Sun . "Global Carbon Fiber Composites Supply Chain Competitiveness Analysis". United States. doi:10.2172/1260138. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1260138.
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@article{osti_1260138,
title = {Global Carbon Fiber Composites Supply Chain Competitiveness Analysis},
author = {Das, Sujit and Warren, Josh and West, Devin and Schexnayder, Susan M.},
abstractNote = {This study identifies key opportunities in the carbon fiber supply chain where the United States Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy resources and investments can help the United States achieve or maintain a competitive advantage. The report focuses on four application areas--wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and pressure vessels--that top the list of industries using carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced polymers and are also particularly relevant to EERE's mission. For each of the four application areas, the report addresses the supply and demand trends within that sector, supply chain, and costs of carbon fiber and components, all contributing to a competitiveness assessment that addresses the United States' role in future industry growth. This report was prepared by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee for the Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center.},
doi = {10.2172/1260138},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/1260138
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    The objective of this study is to identify key opportunities in the carbon fiber (CF) supply chain where resources and investments can help advance the clean energy economy. The report focuses on four application areas—wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and pressure vessels—that top the list of industries using CF and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) and are particularly relevant to the mission of U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE EERE). For each of the four application areas, the report addresses the supply and demand trends within that sector, supply chain, and costs of carbon fibermore » and components.« less

  • ; ; ; ...
    This analysis identifies key opportunities in the carbon fiber supply chain where resources and investments can help advance the clean energy economy. The report focuses on four application areas — wind energy, aerospace, automotive, and pressure vessels — that top the list of industries using carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced polymers. For each of the four application areas, the report addresses the supply and demand trends within that sector, supply chain, and costs of carbon fiber and components.

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    Individual axial tensile specimens of AS4/3501-6 and T300/934 unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite laminate systems are characterized microstructurally. Fiber volume, fractional fiber volume, fiber uniformity, void volume, and variations in laminate thickness are acquired using automated quantitative image analysis (QIA). The sample preparation methods and QIA system procedures are fully explained. The problems in determining average or batch fiber contents in composite laminates using current methods are discussed. Possible problems in using micrometer thickness data in fiber content calculations are discussed when variations in specimen thickness due to surface contours are present. Variations in microstructure exhibited within a singlemore » fabricating company, between several fabricating companies, and between two different fiber-resin systems are demonstrated. Overall, QIA was determined to be a precise means of determining fiber and void contents and uniformity in individual test specimens prior to or after mechanical testing.« less