A new type of carbon-fiber-reinforced graphite material designed for industrial heat treatment applications is comprised of a graphite matrix and reinforcing fibers made of carbon. The carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon (CFRC) is a high-strength composite said to be ideal for use in high-temperature processes requiring lightweight and temperature resistant materials such as the heat treatment of steel components for the automotive and aerospace industry or the coating of silicon wafers in the photovoltaic industry. A current application example from the automotive industry is the fully automatic heat treatment of transmission components on "charging fixtures".

Developed by SGL Group (Wiesbaden, Germany), the material is marketed under the trade name Sigrabond Performance and claims special properties compared to other CFRC materials on the market. For example, it is 20% stiffer and can be processed to create intricate structures, with the material reportedly being ideal for technically demanding high-temperature applications.

A new type of structure based on unidirectional rather than conventional woven carbon fiber fabrics reportedly offers dramatically improved performance and can be optimized to meet individual customer requirements. With this product, SGL Group says it can offer a solution that enables its customers to create material saving structures.

Rüdiger Mackenthun, Head of the Graphite Specialties Business Unit states: "This new carbon-fiber-reinforced graphite material is an exceptional example of SGL Group's development expertise. The enhanced product properties offered by Sigrabond Performance are a major advantage for our customers. Sigrabond Performance represents a new addition to Graphite Specialties' broad product range. Our customers benefit from an impressive, single source solution to all their needs in the area of high-temperature-resistant materials."