CarboBreak: Release of carbon fibre fragments

Information about nanomaterials and their safety assessment

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

Publications

Innovative fibre materials and fibre composites have been developed steadily further in recent years and enjoy a rising demand in various applications and products. Especially for carbon fibres (CF) the global demand has more than doubled within the last decade.

Scanning electron microscope image of carbon fibres and critical & health-relevant carbon fibre fragments © BAuA

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.

In the light of the asbestos problem, the development of material-related expertise on the fracture behaviour of carbon fibres varying in types and provenience is urgently needed. The material conditions of the fibres leading to the formation of alveolar fibrous fragments have to be examined.

Occupational safety measures in the carbon fibre pilot plant of the STFI © Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. 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.

Objective of the CarboBreak project is a deeper understanding of the splintering behaviour of carbon fibres as well as the investigation of the releasing processes of alveolar fragments from carbon fibres and fibre composites manufactured from carbon material at mechanical stress. Main output of the project will be recommendations concerning work procedures and personal safety as well as the definition of ideal respectively optimised process parameters. The results of CarboBreak provide fundamental contributions for the development of application-safe material innovations.