International Strategic Fund
APPLICATION FORM /
PART A: Participants details, Costs and Statement
Proposed Project Title: Design and manufacture of innovative, next generation carbon fibres to establish a new UK capability
Proposed Dates of Activity: 09/06/18 – 15/06/18
End date no later than 31stJuly 2018
University of Bristol Applicant’s Details
Principal Investigator (PI) Name: Ian Bond (PI), Stephen Eichhorn, Ian Hamerton
If more than one participant, identify who is the Principal Investigator for the purposes of administrating the award
Department/School: Aerospace Engineering/CAME
Collaborator’s Details
Host/visitor (COI) Name: Russell Varley
Department/School: Carbon NEXUS
Institution: Deakin University, Melbourne/Geelong, Australia
Justification of Resources – no FEC costing required
Item / Breakdown of costs (please itemise) / Total applied for / £1445
Travel expenses / Return flights – LHR/Melbourne £1300 (cost of economy class flights)
Car hire £250(travel between Deakin Melbourne Campus and Geelong Campus, 100km apart)
Accommodation and Subsistence costs / Hotel (4 nights; Mon-Thur) £600
Subsistence £200
Other eligible costs / Car parking Heathrow £95
Partnerand/or other contributions / £1000+ from internal research funds (will upgrade flights to premium economy)
I confirm that:
  • The information given in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge;
  • I have sought approval from my Head of School, who supports this activity taking place;
  • If successful, I undertake to report the outcomes of this activityat the end of the award period and when reqested on an annual basis for up to two years.
  • I agree that the University may hold and process personal information in connection with this application and may use information relating to this proposal for any publicity and reporting purposes that it deems appropriate.
By submitting this application you agree to the terms listed above.
PART B: CASE FOR SUPPORT– Use this template, do not exceed one side, keep to margin and font size
Grey text: indicates the relevant call criteria for each section and can be deleted.
1. Research context and partnership background
BCI-ACCIS has a longstanding research background in the development and exploitation of new materials and novel fibres. In conjunction with the NCC, aglobally leading, critical mass of research and routes to exploitation exist in Bristol.
Carbon Nexus, a globally unique, open-access carbon fibre/composite research facility, is open for business and conducting strategic research projects with industry.
Currently, no industrial scale fibre manufacturing facility is accessible in either BCI-ACCIS or NCC, or indeed anywhere in the UK.
Seek growth of an existing informal relationship to a strategic partnership between Bristol and Deakin, working on the topic of new fibre development which will exploit both partners background, skills, expertise and facilities.
Bond, Eichhorn and Hamertonare the Bristol team with relevant materials expertise to create a carbon fibre facility here in Bristol.
2. Strategic relevance
Carbon Nexus is an integral part of the $103m Australian Future Fibres Research and Innovation Centre at Deakin. Carbon Nexus, a globally unique, open-access carbon fibre/composite research facility, is conducting strategic research projects with industry and academia.This $34m facility, located at its Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, near Melbourne, offers:
  • State-of-the-art research and analysis laboratories.
  • Pilot scale and research carbonisation lines, operated by experienced production staff.
  • A team of capable, researchers dedicated to working on industrially focused research to produce high quality carbon fibre, while reducing production costs and accelerating manufacturing processes.
For more than a decade, Deakin University researchers have been developing new and improved fibres and carbon composites. This new facility significantly enhances the capacity to deliver real outcomes and to capture the enormous market potential of carbon fibre and related composites.
As the UK moves towards establishing new relationships beyond our traditional partners, this proposal offers the opportunity to form a strategic relationship with a globally leading Australian partner, keen to reciprocate.
3. Description of your proposed activity
This is a preliminary visit to scope and plan a feasibilty studyprior to proposing a significant research activity (and joint funding UK-Aus bid) to develop a manufacturing route for and characterisation of novel shaped carbon fibre – to provide enhanced mechanical performance, and exploiting sustainable routes to manufacture. The immediate follow-up to this visit will be to utilise their small scall fibre manufacturing facility to manufacture proptype shaped carbon fibres.
The visit will be completed by end of June 2018.
A contribution of £1500 from existing research funding will be forthcoming.
4. Outcomes
  • Feasibility study for the manufacture of unconventional carbon fibres.
  • Scoping out the design/creation of a 200-1k tow C fibre production facility – which already exists in Deakin, with a view to creating a smaller protoype facility here in Bristol, as part of BCI/NCC/NCMC.
  • Creation of a unique UK facility for creation of prototype carbon fibre (shaped, hollow, circular), as well as exploring new precursors (e.g. cellulosic, biologically derived, non mineral oil based)
  • Ongoing strategic relationship with leading international partner to develop highly innovative, next generation carbon fibres.
  • Bid for joint UK/Australia funding to EPSRC/ARC for academic collaboration on fibre development, in conjunction with seeking funds via NCMC/NCC3 to establish fibre line(s) in Bristol.
This funding will allow dedicated time on site to scope out and plan an initial feasibility study, a follow on bid for funding, and start the assessment of how a complementary fibre manufacturing facilty can be created in Bristol.
5. Sustainability
This will initiatea long-term partnership between BCI-ACCIS/NCC and Deakin/Carbon Nexus, as part of our extensive composites research roadmap and the ongoing plans to create a UK Centre (NCMC) to support the creation of new fibre and matrix materials (subject to BEIS funding in conjunction with CPI)