Carbon fibre

Carbon fibre (or carbon fiber in the United States) is a strong, lightweight material made of very thin strands of carbon. Despite its expense, carbon fibre is used in a variety of high-performance applications, including aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, and increasingly in consumer electronics and medical devices due to its strength-to-weight ratio, which is significantly higher than traditional materials like steel or aluminum.

Production

Carbon fibre is produced through the carbonization of organic precursors, typically polyacrylonitrile (PAN), though other precursors like rayon or petroleum pitch are also used. The process involves stabilizing the precursor fibers at a low temperature to infuse them with carbon atoms, then heating them to a very high temperature in an inert atmosphere. This removes non-carbon atoms, leaving behind a chain of tightly interlocked carbon atoms. The resulting fibres are extremely thin—on the order of several micrometers in diameter—and can be woven into a fabric or combined with a polymer matrix to form carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites.

Properties and Applications

Carbon fibre's unique properties—high tensile strength, low weight, high chemical resistance, high temperature tolerance, and low thermal expansion—make it valuable in industries where such traits are coveted. In aerospace, it is used for components that require a high strength-to-weight ratio, such as aircraft wings and fuselage parts. The automotive industry uses carbon fibre in the production of high-performance vehicles for similar reasons, often in chassis, body, and engine components. In sports, carbon fibre is used to make lighter and stronger equipment like bicycles, golf clubs, and tennis rackets.

Environmental Impact

The production of carbon fibre has environmental implications, primarily due to the energy-intensive processes required to transform the precursor materials into carbon fibre and the challenges associated with recycling carbon fibre-reinforced materials. Efforts are ongoing to develop more sustainable production methods and recycling processes to mitigate these impacts.

Future Directions

Research into carbon fibre technology focuses on reducing production costs, improving material properties, and expanding recycling capabilities. Innovations such as cheaper and more abundant precursors, more efficient production processes, and new composite materials could broaden the applications of carbon fibre, making it more accessible for a wider range of industries.

Carbon fibre Resources
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