The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich., USA) announced on Feb. 25 that has received a $5 million grant from the Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE) program through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help accelerate innovation efforts to manufacture a cost-effective carbon fiber for use in industrial market applications such as wind energy and transportation.
Using its technology leadership in chemistry and material science, Dow will work to significantly reduce carbon fiber manufacturing costs through innovative polymer precursor development incorporating energy-efficient processing in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), the U.S. Department of Energy's largest science and energy laboratory and its lead in low-cost carbon fiber research and development.
Upon success, this project will assist in transforming and diversifying Michigan's economy through alternative energy generation, as well as manufacturing associated with the wind energy and transportation industries.
