| Abstract Scope |
Corn kernel fiber is a natural, renewable, and low-cost resource produced in sufficient quantities as the residue of the corn grain wet and dry mill processes. Currently, it is used as a low-grade animal feed ingredient and a potential source of additional sugars for fermentation to ethanol. Carbon fiber (CF) is a high-value synthetic material with superior properties, including high strength-to-weight ratio, high tensile strength, low density, high heat tolerance, and high corrosion resistance. Currently, most commercial CFs are manufactured from a petroleum-derived polymer, polyacrylonitrile. A new technology has been developed to produce CF from the low-cost and sustainable precursor—corn kernel fiber. Their quality and morphology have been characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. |