Carbon fibre – explained | The Mechanical post
Carbon fibers are fibers about 5–10 micrometres in diameter and are made up of carbon atoms. Carbon fibers have high stiffness, high tensile strength, low weight, high chemical resistance, high temperature tolerance and low thermal expansion.
Carbon fibre is increasingly celebrated as a wonder material for the clean economy. Its unique combination of high strength and low weight has helped drive the wind power revolution and make planes more fuel efficient.Carbon fibre turbine blades can be longer and more rigid than traditional fibreglass models, making them more resilient at sea and more efficient in less breezy conditions.Auto makers are also waking up to the material’s potential to make lighter and more efficient vehicles. McLaren recently announced plans to open a factory in Sheffield to manufacture carbon fibre sports cars, and BMW’s i3 is fitted with a carbon fibre passenger unit – the first such mass-produced car.
Carbon fibers are very expensive and can give galvanic corrosion in contact with metals. They are generally used together with epoxy, where high strength and stiffness are required, i.e. race cars, automotive and space applications, sport equipment.Depending on the orientation of the fiber, the carbon fiber composite can be stronger in a certain direction or equally strong in all directions. A small piece can withstand an impact of many tons and still deform minimally. The complex interwoven nature of the fiber makes it very difficult to break.
1. Physical strength, specific toughness, light weight.
2. Good vibration damping, strength, and toughness.
3. High dimensional stability, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and low abrasion.
4. Electrical conductivity.
5. Biological inertness and x-ray permeability.
6. Fatigue resistance, self-lubrication, high damping.
7. Electromagnetic properties.
8. Chemical inertness, high corrosion resistance.
Classification of Carbon Fiber:
- Based on modulus, strength, and final heat treatment temperature, carbon fibers can be classified into the following categories:
- Based on carbon fiber properties,
- Based on precursor fiber materials,
- Based on final heat treatment temperature
- Based on carbon fiber properties, carbon fibers can be grouped into:
- Ultra-high-modulus, type UHM (modulus >450Gpa)
- High-modulus, type HM (modulus between 350-450Gpa)
- Intermediate-modulus, type IM (modulus between 200-350Gpa)
- Low modulus and high-tensile, type HT (modulus < 100Gpa, tensile strength > 3.0Gpa)
- Super high-tensile, type SHT (tensile strength > 4.5Gpa)
Based on precursor fiber materials, carbon fibers are classified into:
- PAN-based carbon fibers
- Pitch-based carbon fibers
- Mesosphere pitch-based carbon fibers
- Isotropic pitch-based carbon fibers
- Rayon-based carbon fibers
- Gas-phase-grown carbon fibers
Based on final heat treatment temperature, carbon fibers are classified into:
- High-heat-treatment carbon fibers (HTT), where final heat treatment temperature should be above 2000C and can be associated with high-modulus type fiber.
- Intermediate-heat-treatment carbon fibers (IHT), where final heat treatment temperature should be around or above 1500C and can be associated with high-strength type fiber.
- Low-heat-treatment carbon fibers, where final heat treatment temperatures not greater than 1000C. These are low modulus and low strength materials.
The two main applications of carbon fibers are in specialized technology, which includes aerospace and nuclear engineering, and in general engineering and transportation, which includes engineering components such as bearings, gears, cams, fan blades and automobile bodies. Recently, some new applications of carbon fibers have been found.
Such as rehabilitation of a bridge in building and construction industry, others include: decoration in automotive, marine, general aviation interiors, general entertainment and musical instruments and after-market transportation products. Conductivity in electronics technology provides additional new application.
- Aerospace, road and marine transport, sporting goods.
- Missiles, aircraft brakes, aerospace antenna and support structure, large telescopes, optical benches, waveguides for stable high-frequency (GHz) precision measurement frames.
- Audio equipment, loudspeakers for Hi-fi equipment, pickup arms, robot arms.
- Automobile hoods, novel tooling, casings and bases for electronic equipments, EMI and RF shielding, brushes.
- Medical applications in prostheses, surgery and x-ray equipment, implants, and tendon/ligament repair.
- Textile machinery, genera engineering.
- Chemical industry; nuclear field; valves, seals, and pump components in process plants.
- Large generator retaining rings, radiological equipment.
Carbon fibre is sometimes used in conjunction with fiberglass because of their similar manufacturing processes, an example of this would be the Corvette ZO6 where the front end is carbon fibre and the rear is fiberglass. Carbon fiber is however, far stronger and lighter than fiberglass.
This is a short brief on Carbon fibre. If you like this post, do let us know about it in the comments and share with friends and family with social links given below.