From Race Cars to Rockets: TUM Start-Up Blackwave Transforms Carbon Tech
- Ritambhara K
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Carbon fiber has become a cornerstone of modern high-performance engineering—from automotive design to advanced aerospace systems. Lightweight, exceptionally strong, and endlessly adaptable, this material has unlocked innovation across multiple industries.
One company at the forefront of this evolution is Blackwave, a start-up born at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). What started with creating custom carbon components for sports cars and aircraft has now grown into the development of cutting-edge high-pressure tanks for space missions.
In engineering, progress often hinges on a seemingly small detail. For rockets, that detail is the design of high-pressure tanks that support fuel systems. Rockets must be as light as possible, which means their primary fuel tanks lose structural stability once emptied. To prevent collapse, engineers use a clever workaround: small internal secondary tanks release noble gases as fuel burns, filling the empty space and keeping the rocket stable.
“It’s like a soda can,” explains Bastian Behrens, founder of Blackwave and TUM alumnus. “Filled with liquid and CO₂, it easily supports weight. Empty it, and it crushes instantly. Aerospace tanks work the same way.”
Redefining High-Pressure Tanks with Carbon Fiber
These secondary high-pressure tanks endure extreme demands—operating at pressures up to 420 bar, handling chemically aggressive fuels, and surviving temperatures from –50°C to +120°C. For decades, their harsh requirements meant they were made only from heavy, spherical steel.
Blackwave changed the equation. Since 2018, the company has been manufacturing carbon-fiber high-pressure tanks that outperform traditional steel in multiple ways. Carbon fiber’s exceptional tensile strength makes it ideal for high-pressure environments. It is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and doesn’t react with fuel.
Most importantly, carbon fiber allows tanks to be built in shapes other than spheres—such as bottle-shaped designs that integrate more efficiently into rocket systems.
Unsurprisingly, global interest is high, with prestigious clients across Europe and the U.S. already adopting the technology.
“The tank is the most elegant application of carbon fiber,” says Behrens. “Its loads are purely tensile—and carbon fiber is unmatched at managing tensile stress.”
From Passion Project to High-Tech Company
Behrens’ fascination with the glossy black material began long before Blackwave existed. As a teenager, he crafted carbon parts for his motorcycle. When he discovered the newly established TUM Chair of Carbon Composites, he moved from Aachen to Munich to pursue what would become his life’s work.
At TUM, his passion deepened through the TUfast student racing team, where he developed carbon components used in international competitions. These experiences opened doors to the automotive industry and eventually led to the founding vision of Blackwave. Connections with the aerospace sector soon followed, steering the company toward rocket technology.
Built Through Networking, Dedication, and Start-Up Support
What began as a hobby quickly transformed into a career. Behrens leveraged TUM’s extensive network, refined his manufacturing techniques, and benefited from UnternehmerTUM’s start-up advisory support. With expert guidance, Blackwave grew from a student project into a sophisticated engineering company.
Today, Blackwave employs nearly 100 specialists and serves clients around the globe. Some of its carbon-fiber tanks have already achieved “flight heritage”—a prestigious milestone indicating successful performance in space.
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