CARBON FIBRE

Also called graphite fiber or carbon graphite, carbon fiber consists of

very thin strands of the element carbon.

Carbon fibers have high tensile strength and are very strong for their
size.

Each fiber is 5-10 microns in diameter.

Carbon fibers are twice as stiff as steel and five times as strong as
steel, (per unit of weight
 They also are highly chemically resistant and have high temperature
tolerance with low thermal expansion.

Carbon fibers are important in engineering materials, aerospace, high

performance vehicles, supporting equipment, etc.
Properties of Carbon Fibers
High strength
High stiffness
Withstand temperatures to >2500oC
High strength/weight ratio
Tensile moduli range from 4x106 psi to 100x106 psi
 MANUFACTURING PROCESS
In the manufacturing process, the raw materials, which are called
precursors, are drawn into long strands or fibers. The fibers are woven
into fabric or combined with other materials that are filament wound or
molded into desired shapes and sizes.

There are typically five segments in the manufacturing of carbon fibers

from the PAN process. These are:

Spinning. PAN mixed with other ingredients and spun into fibers,
which are washed and stretched.
Stabilizing. Chemical alteration to stabilize bonding.
 Carbonizing. Stabilized fibers heated to very high temperature
forming tightly bonded carbon crystals.
Treating the Surface of fibers i.e. fibers are oxidized to improve
bonding properties.
Sizing. Fibers are coated and wound onto roll, which are loaded
onto spinning machines that twist the fibers into different size yarns.
To form composite materials, heat, pressure, or a vacuum binds
fibers together with a plastic polymer.
Production of Carbon Fiber from PAN

Heating/Stretching
Pre-carbonization
Carbonization
Surface Treatment
 STRENGTH
It needs to be understood that all carbon fiber is not equal. When the
carbon is manufactured into fibers, special additives and elements are
introduced to increase strength properties.

Carbon is manufactured into tiny fibers through either the PAN or

Pitch process. The carbon is manufactured in bundles of thousands of
tiny filaments, and wound onto a roll .

There are three major categories of raw carbon fiber

High Modulus Carbon Fiber (Aerospace Grade)
Intermediate Modulus Carbon Fiber
Standard Modulus Carbon Fiber (Commercial Grade)
Chemistry of carbon fiber
production
 APPLICATIONS
Aerospace
Architecture
Automotive
Construction
Defense
Hydropower generation
Industrial
Marine
Medical
UNI-DIRECTIONAL SHORT FIBRE

WOVEN CARBON BRAIDED SLEEVE

 BMW i3
Carbon fibre reinforced
polymer to improve the
vehicle's
energy consumption

Ranked as most efficient

EPA certified vehicle

50% shorter production

line
 LA
FERRARI
27% more torsional
rigidity,
22% more beam
stiffness, and
20% lighter than Enzo
Ferrari
The seat structure was
made part of the
chassis

Multiple material

Carbon T800

Carbon T1000

Kevlar (Aramid)