CarboBreak

CarboBreak – Prerequisites and mechanisms for the release of alveolar fibrous carbon fibre fragments

Final report:

The BMBF project CarboBreak was a joint research project of the partners Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI), Chemnitz, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA), Berlin, IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH, Dresden and CFK Valley Stade Recycling GmbH & Co. KG, Stade. The project was funded as part of the Nano-Care4.0 programme.

For the fibres themselves and the polymer composites produced out of them, pre-investigations showed a partially strong tendency towards splintering at mechanical stress and mechanical processing. Up to now it is still unresolved how strong the potential is for releasing alveolar fragments within the entire life cycle of the fibres when stressed mechanically. The increasing importance of carbon fibres especially for lightweight and high-performance applications requires a deeper insight in dust and fibre releasing processes due to the high persistence of graphitic raw materials in biological systems. Joint cross-sectoral efforts of different disciplines such as safety research, materials science and product development are needed.

Based on the growing importance of carbon fibres (CF) for lightweight and high-performance applications, the aim of the project CarboBreak was to gain a deeper understanding of the fragmentation fracture behaviour of the fibres and to investigate the release processes of alveolar fragments from carbon fibres and CF reinforced composites. Possible connections between physical properties of the carbon fibres, the splinter fracture tendency and the formation of alveolar CF fragments were investigated.

Another focus of the project was the implementation of workplace measurements according to VDI 3492 and DGUV-Information 213-546. The measurements and sampling were implemented on site at the project partners’ premises and at industrial plants to ensure the link to practice. The project work covers the entire life cycle of carbon fibres, from the production of textile semi-finished products to the manufacture and processing of composites, recycling and reuse. The main results of the project are recommendations on work processes and personal safety as well as the identification of ideal or optimised process parameters during processing. The results of CarboBreak provide fundamental contributions for the development of application-safe material innovations.  

• Project Flyer for Download (PDF, 4 MB )
• Project Poster (2021) “CarboBreak – Conditions and Mechanisms for releasing Alveolar Fibrous Carbon Fibre Fragments” (PDF, 816 KB )