High performance sustainable carbon fibres from Australian spinifex grass

在澳大利亚大陆最干旱的地区，三针草覆盖了大约30%的土地。据发现，大概是因为这种恶劣的环境，它们特别容易分解成超长，薄的纤维素纳米纤维。通过使用新型催化剂和先进的加工技术，该项目旨在利用这一特性，以具有成本效益的方式从纳米纤维素生产高强度、可持续的碳纤维。预计使用世界上第一个能够生产高质量碳纤维的大学研究设施（CarbonNexus）将确保该产品具有工业相关性，并具有真实的潜力，以占领140亿美元的碳纤维复合材料市场的份额。

Spinifex grasses cover approximately 30 per cent of our Australian continent, in the driest regions. It has been found that, presumably because of this harsh environment, they are uniquely easy to break down into ultra-long, thin cellulose nanofibrils. Through the use of novel catalysts and advanced processing techniques, this project aims to take advantage of this trait to deliver the cost-effective production of high strength, sustainable carbon fibres from nanocellulose. It is expected that the use of the world's first university based research facility capable of producing high quality carbon fibre (CarbonNexus) will ensure the product is industrially relevant, with real potential to capture a share of the $14 billion carbon-fibre-composite market.