Aerospace engineers Dr Filip Stojcevski and Andreas Hendlmeier, along with organic chemist James Randall, combined their knowledge of carbon fibre manufacturing, electrochemistry and material interfaces to overcome the technical hurdles of using recycled carbon fibre to create a robust, affordable, high-performance surfboard.

The trio were inspired by their interactions with famous Torquay-based surfboard shaper Eiji Shiomoto.

While carbon fibre is an amazing material, more than 45,000 tonnes of it is thrown into landfill each year

The group is confident that the new recycled carbon fibre boards are stronger, lighter and more durable than conventional e-glass fibre-reinforced boards while costing around the same price.

Until now, carbon fibre surfboards have been too rigid and prone to delamination, due to micro-cracks in the carbon fibre interface. The new recycled boards use electrochemistry to improve the properties of surface-modified hydrophobic carbon fibres and recycled fibres to solve the problem.

Dr Stojcevski completed his Deakin PhD with Boeing R and T Aerospace, where he worked on improving surface treatments that make carbon fibre adhere to resin, while international student Andreas Hendlmeier is from Germany and has worked on optimising carbon fibre surface treatments.

The Australian surfboard industry account for almost a third of the global market, with 8.5 million surfboards in Australia alone. The new company is hoping to carve out a space for ourselves in this large potential market – and this venture isn’t just limited to surfboards; the technology could also be adapted for other sporting and marine applications.

The boards are available to pre-order from the JUC Surf website with prices ranging from $650 to $900 (AUD)

The post Deakin Trio Create Worlds-First Recycled Carbon Fibre Surfboard appeared first on Composites Today.

Bureau Veritas measured total oxidation times of sub-15 and sub-20 minutes over two separate production campaigns of 24K standard modulus (SM) carbon fibre, achieving fibre tow properties in excess of 270 GPa tensile modulus and 3,500 MPa tensile strength.

The BV audit was conducted on Carbon Nexus’s 100 metric ton (nameplate) pilot line which is currently producing samples for trials with LeMond’s target customers in several SM industrial markets. In addition to accurately measuring oxidation times and assuring process traceability, BV oversaw the fibre sampling, packaging and shipping of audit samples for extensive testing at the BV laboratories in Pessac, France. Composite tow tests of the LeMond fibre were completed according to ASTM D 4018-17 standards.

This is a significant milestone for our company. Having our technology independently verified by BV validates the revolutionary nature of our technology. My team and I are excited to bring our high-performance low-cost carbon fibre to the global market and look forward to expanding into new markets where the current high cost of carbon fibre has been a significant barrier to adoption Greg LeMond, Founder and Chairman of the Board of LeMond Carbon

LeMond and Deakin University are teamed to commercialise this innovative technology which enables reductions of 75% and 70% in Capex and energy consumption per kilo of output respectively. The rapid oxidation process enables LeMond to produce carbon fibre with the lowest embodied energy of any standard PAN-based carbon fibre available today.

Having proven the capability to successfully produce a competitive standard modulus carbon fibre, LeMond has launched a new capital raise to develop a 5,400-metric ton (nameplate) production facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. To date, parent LeMond Companies LLC has raised approximately USD 18.6M of seed capital from individual and institutional investors, including Deakin University.

The post LeMond to Develop New Carbon Fibre Production Facility after Successful Tests appeared first on Composites Today.