C4WARD: Coal Conversion for Carbon Fibers and Composites

The purpose of this field work proposal is to develop the underlying and translational science to establish processing-structure-properties relationships for coal-derived carbon fibers that will enable energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable processes for manufacturing carbon fibers with tunable properties. The project will address challenges associated with coal processing, variability in coal feedstocks, and scaling up carbon fiber manufacturing from the laboratory bench scale up to semi-production scale at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Carbon Fiber Technology Facility.