A carbon fibre yarn: weaving fossil fuel roots into a sustainable future

Carbon fibre is often hailed as a miracle material. It’s lightweight, incredibly strong and a key enabler of energy efficiency across industries from aerospace to electric vehicles. But beneath its sleek, high-tech image lies a complex origin story: most carbon fibres are derived from petrochemical sources, making them inherently non-renewable. In this talk, Dr Tom Allen will explore the paradox at the heart of carbon fibre – how a material born from fossil fuels is helping to drive a more sustainable future.

Tom will unravel the science behind carbon fibre’s unique properties and examine how its use contributes to significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. He’ll also confront the environmental costs of its production and the challenges related to recycling it and its end-of-life management. This talk invites a nuanced conversation about innovation, trade-offs and the future of materials science. Join Tom to hear how carbon fibre is helping to stitch together a cleaner, more efficient world – one strand at a time.

Bio

Dr Tom Allen is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. He completed his PhD at the University of Auckland in 2013, focusing on the structural integrity of composite materials in yachts when they encounter waves. Tom is interested in the intersection of manufacturing and performance, with much of his research centred on the structural performance of high-performance composites in marine, automotive and aerospace structures.

Event

8:00pm @Shadows, 8 Alfred Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010

Also speaking at this location at 6:00pm is Laura Burn