Carbon Fiber: Overview
Carbon fiber is a lightweight, high-strength material composed primarily of carbon atoms bonded together in a crystalline structure. It offers exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and thermal and chemical resistance.
How Carbon Fiber is Made
- Raw Material (Precursor): Made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN), pitch, or rayon (PAN is most common).
- Oxidation: Precursor fibers are heated to 200–300°C in air, stabilizing their chemical structure.
- Carbonization: Stabilized fibers are heated to 1000–3000°C in an inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen). Non-carbon atoms are removed, leaving behind nearly pure carbon.
- Surface Treatment: Fibers are treated to improve adhesion with resins during composite manufacturing.
- Sizing: A protective coating is applied to the fibers for easier handling and to enhance compatibility with resins.
- Weaving: Fibers are woven into fabrics or left as continuous strands.
Applications
- Aerospace: Aircraft components (wings, fuselages) for weight reduction and fuel efficiency.
- Automotive: Lightweight structural parts in sports and electric vehicles.
- Sports Equipment: Bicycles, tennis rackets, golf clubs, and fishing rods for enhanced performance.
- Construction: Reinforcement in concrete structures and bridges for durability.
- Medical: Prosthetics, surgical instruments, and X-ray tables.
- Renewable Energy: Wind turbine blades and hydrogen storage tanks.
- Electronics: Lightweight and durable cases for laptops and mobile devices.
- Military: Bulletproof vests, helmets, and aerospace defense components.
Key Properties
- High tensile strength
- Low density
- High chemical and thermal resistance
- Corrosion-resistant
- Non-metallic conductivity
