Carbon fibers can be defined as fibers with a carbon content of 90% or above.

Carbon fiber is a material that is made up of long, thin strands of carbon that are bonded together. It is very strong and lightweight, making it ideal for use in a variety of applications, including aircraft manufacturing.

Production of carbon fibers

Carbon fiber is made by heating a carbon-containing material, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), rayon, or pitch, to a very high temperature in an inert atmosphere. This process causes the carbon atoms to bond together and form long, thin strands.

The strands are then twisted together to form yarn, which can be woven into fabric or mats. The fabric or mats can then be impregnated with a resin, such as epoxy, to form a composite material.

Advantages of carbon fibers

The main advantage of carbon fibers compared to other fibers are the high tensile strength, high stiffness, low density, and a high chemical resistance.

All these advantages can be combined with an adequate (polymer resin) matrix material to give excellent mechanical properties of composite parts built from both. These composite components are lightweight with very high mechanical properties compared to parts made of metals like aluminum or other fiber-reinforced composites. This justifies the use of carbon fibers compared to other possible fibrous materials such as glass or organic fibers and metal.

The main applications of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers include aerospace and defense, automotive, wind turbines, sport and leisure, and civil engineering.

Applications of carbon fiber

Carbon fiber composites are very strong and lightweight, and they are also corrosion-resistant and have a good electrical conductivity. This makes them ideal for use in a variety of applications, including:

Aircraft manufacturing: Carbon fiber is used in a variety of aircraft components, including wings, fuselages, and engine cowlings. It can help to reduce the weight of the aircraft, which can lead to improved fuel efficiency and performance.

Automotive manufacturing: Carbon fiber is used in a variety of automotive components, including body panels, wheels, and brakes. It can help to reduce the weight of the vehicle, which can lead to improved fuel efficiency and performance.

Sports equipment: Carbon fiber is used in a variety of sports equipment, including tennis rackets, golf clubs, and bicycles. It can help to make the equipment lighter and stronger, which can improve performance.

Medical devices: Carbon fiber is used in a variety of medical devices, including implants, prosthetics, and surgical instruments. It can help to make the devices lighter and stronger, which can improve patient outcomes.

Carbon fibers have low noise characteristics and have been successfully used in neurobiology for electrochemical detection of released compounds from single brain cells.

Smart structures: Carbon fibers can act both as a conductor, like metals, as well as a semiconductor. Therefore, these materials open up the possibility of their use in smart structures.

Carbon fiber technology is a rapidly developing field, and new applications for carbon fiber are being discovered all the time. As the technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more use of carbon fiber in a variety of applications.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUES . Consider the following statements: UPSC 2023

1 . Carbon fibres are used in the manufacture of components used in automobiles and aircrafts.

2 . Carbon fibres once used cannot be recycled.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show Answer