Thermal processing solutions provider Harper International (Buffalo, N.Y., U.S.) has been awarded a contract to engineer and manufacture a scientific line for the production of bitumen pitch carbon — a petroleum-derived pitch that can be used to make carbon fiber — to be installed at Alberta Innovates, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The facility will be operated by research institute InnoTech Alberta, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alberta Innovates. The equipment delivery and startup services are scheduled within 2025.

This pilot-scale equipment will be used by researchers as part of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge launched by Alberta Innovates to accelerate the development of large-scale production pathways for short and continuous carbon fiber from bitumen-derived feedstocks. Phase III of the competition will enable projects to demonstrate in a repeatable manner the ability to manufacture carbon fiber, incorporate the carbon fiber into prototypes and understand the techno-economics associated with the designed process.

“Harper is pleased to support Alberta Innovates Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge to successfully create an alternative carbon fiber precursor with our customized scientific line,” says Briana Tom, Harper sales engineer. “Carbon fiber from bitumen-derived precursor will significantly lower the price and have a smaller environmental impact.”