[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_banner target_blank=”false” bg_color=”#81d742″ bg_opacity=”50″ text_color=”#81d742″ text_size=”normal” border_width=”3″ outer_padding=”10″ inner_padding=”10″ min_height=”150″ animation=”none”]Nearly all carbon fibers used in industrial applications originate from only two types of raw material: Precursor fibers are predominantly made from polyacrylonitrile or for around 1% of the market from pitch based precursor systems. Carbon fibers made from polyacrylonitrile ‐ based precursors show a high tensile strength and modulus. They are used in various applications, e.g. aerospace industry, wind turbines, and automotive industry. The production of PAN‐based carbon fibers is complex and expensive. Because of that a lot of effort was and is put into the research of alternative precursor polymers, which promise a better cost structure. The wood components cellulose and lignin are highly available bio polymers and investigated worldwide as precursor materials for carbon fibers. Polyolefin polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene are also of high interest, due to their low price and high availability. The actual approaches to convert lignins, cellulosics, and polyethylene to low‐cost carbon fibers are discussed.[/dt_banner][/vc_column][/vc_row]