710715Hypetex – a novel coloured carbon fibre compositeClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKCarbon fibre reinforced polymer was invented ~50 years ago by a team of engineers at a Royal Aircraft Establishment. It is a structural composite material with a unique combination of properties that makes it strong, stiff and light: carbon fibre structure of equal strength will often weigh 1/5th that of steel. Virtually all CF manufactured worldwide is used in combination with a binding matrix to produce carbon composites such as carbon fibre reinforced plastics. The weight saving achieved through use of carbon composites has made them a material of choice for many industries looking for efficiency gains, such as aerospace, automotive and wind turbines, opening up new engineering possibilities. However, although carbon fibre composite offers many structural advantages, as well as a distinctive and desirable visual appearance due to the woven structure of the fibres, its use in product design has been restricted by carbon fibre’s intrinsic black colouration. Where colour has been mandated for performance and/or aesthetic reasons, it has been applied during post-processing, incurring expense, adding unwanted weight, and, frequently, the requirement for routine maintenance, often in challenging environments, e.g. off-shore wind turbines. Utilising proprietary technology and expertise initially developed for Formula 1 motor racing, GPF One is seeking to develop and commercialise a portfolio of coloured carbon composites. In the proposed project, informed by prospective user input, GPF One intends to use innovative processes to demonstrate the technical feasibility of producing a novel, durable and scalable coloured carbon composite that matches and/or exceeds desired performance characteristics whilst satisfying the unmet market need.