Carbon fiber is viewed by many industries as one of the most desirable structural materials in the world. Its high-strength, lightweight mechanical properties make it an ideal material for many structural applications in sectors such as aerospace, national defense, and renewable energy. The cost, however, has made it difficult to integrate carbon fiber into mainstream products.

This challenge has been recognized by the composite industry and federal governments for many years. To move the needle on pricing and manufacturing costs, investments in research and development are being made by governmental and commercial organizations across the globe. Now, those investments are not only yielding innovative, cost-saving technologies, but also promoting carbon fiber use in new markets, such as the automotive and transportation industry.

As the ability to produce low-cost carbon fiber becomes a reality and policy makers seek to reduce global energy consumption, there will be an enormous increase in demand for lightweight, high-performance composites. Today, we stand at the precipice of change as material science continues to advance the way we interact with the world around us.

In this whitepaper, you will be guided through:

• An introduction to carbon fiber as an advanced composite material

• A non-proprietary description of the carbon fiber manufacturing process

• An overview of the domestic and international policies that are accelerating the growth of the carbon fiber and lightweight composite industries

• Plus, a summary of the downstream composite manufacturing landscape