High performances carbon fibers from bio-sourced polyacrylonitrile – OSCAR

The aim of the OSCAR project is the development of an 100% biobased high performance carbon fiber (CF) based on a precursor derived from the biomass transformation industries. Thanks to its remarkable properties, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is the mainly used precursor for high performance CF production. PAN is synthesized from the acrylonitrile monomer (AN). However, the industrial source of AN is today directly related to the non renewable petroleum ressources. In this context, the OSCAR project aims at exploring the technical, scientific, economical and environmental feasibility of the production process of biobased acrylonitrile (bioAN) and its transformation to high performance CF. Glycerol, a coproduct of the biodiesel industry, is the starting material considered for the preparation of bioAN. Based on the knowledge and the expertise of the consortium, the production process of bioAN from glycerol (patented by the project coordinator) will be developed and optimized. Then, the multi-steps transformation of bioAN in CF will be carefully demonstrated.
In a second step, the OSCAR project will investigate a cost reduction strategy of the CF based on the fabrication of precursor from mixes of biobased polyacrylonitrile (bioPAN) and a byproduct of the paper industry : lignins. As lignins are also renewable ressources, the CF proposed with this strategy will be 100% biosourced too.
OSCAR project fits in the thematic axis 7 (Materials) of the 2021 ASTRID call fo proposals. In addition to being part of sustainable development, the OSCAR project places particular emphasis on the strategic independence of the CF sector, an essential component of the civil and defense industry. The OSCAR project concerns both military and civilian fields where high performance CF find their use for aerospace, defense and aeronautical applications.