An Iowa State researcher is looking to make lignin, which is an organic substance found in wood, into carbon fiber — a lightweight, durable material used in manufacturing parts. 

Iowa State’s Xianglan Bai, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has partnered with Attis Industries to develop a low cost, more sustainable carbon fiber.

Iowa State reached out to Attis after trying every other type of lignin process and being unable to turn it into a cost-effective carbon fiber.

Attis Industries decided to partner with Iowa State after seeing their leading research in carbon fiber and their quick turn around through using their lignin product.

“It only made sense with the first person that asked us to do that and their reputation in the market around carbon fiber that we would partner with Iowa State,” said Jeff Cosman, chairman and CEO of Attis Industries.

This partnership will be Attis Industries’ first partnership with a major university. The company has only been around for about a year and a half.

Bai said it took about four to five months to come to an agreement on the partnership.

“It was a short conversation just because they moved so quickly and were so successful,” Cosman said.

The partnership is set to last six months with an intense research focus during the timeframe.

The research team working on this advancement consists of Wandga Qu, a post-doctorate in Bai’s lab and Yixin Luo, a doctorate student. There are also scientists from Attis Industries included in the research.

The primary goal of the partnership is to develop Attis Industries melt-flowing lignin into a carbon fiber that can be used anywhere from automobiles to space shuttles.

“Carbon fiber is two times stronger than steel and one sixth of the weight,” Cosman said. 

The research team will be working to modify the Attis Industries’ lignin product and make it into a more cost efficient carbon fiber.

“Iowa State’s role is to do the research, to further advance carbon fiber in the market place because right now carbon fiber is too expensive to replace aluminum and steels and the petroleum-based plastics,” Cosman said.

Creating carbon fiber with Attis Industries’ lignin will repurpose carbon already in the atmosphere. This stops new carbons from being introduced into the atmosphere.

This partnership is offering a solution to going green with renewable fuels and by eliminating new carbons from the air.

“It’s not just about the US, it’s about the world wide expansion of carbon fiber and renewable fuels,” Cosman said. “That alone says that we can process our greatest assets in a more efficient, profitable way.”

Bai said that she is excited about the partnership. “I’m very interested in their lignin because their lignin is much different than the type of lignin we use to handle and it shows a lot of potential,” Bai said.