Research Projects

Carbon fibre production in India is set to begin in 2024, as announced by the textile minister in a recent press meet. Following this, Reliance Industries will establish the country’s first carbon fibre manufacturing facility. This unit aims to support the growing demand for carbon fibres in sectors such as aerospace, automobiles, and composites. As a result, there will be a significant increase in the need for mesophase pitch, a critical component in carbon fibre production. This project aims to produce low-cost, high-quality mesophase pitch to meet the growing demand for carbon fibre manufacturing in India. Coal tar pitch (CTP) is a valuable industrial by-product commonly used in the production of carbon materials, including graphite and carbon fibres. However, converting CTP into mesophase pitch an essential precursor for high-performance carbon fibres remains a challenging process. Traditional methods require prolonged heating, which slows down the conversion, and the use of catalysts such as graphene or graphene oxide helps form nucleation sites, but uniform and thorough mixing remains a significant hurdle. In this project we develop a novel process of insitu synthesis of graphene to provide a nucleation site for mesophase pitch creation using a optical source along with heating. This innovative approach has the potential to lower production costs, enhance carbon fiber performance, and contribute to more sustainable material production. Furthermore, it could lead to advancements in high-performance carbon fibers for aerospace, automotive, and other advanced industries.