About 90% of the carbon fibers produced are made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The remaining 10% are made from rayon or petroleum pitch. All of these materials are organic polymers, characterised by long strings of molecules bound together by carbon atoms. They main element in carbon fibers as obvious is carbon.
Carbon is the 6th element on the periodic table having an Atomic number of 6 and Mass of 12.011. It is a non-metal and in Group 14 and Period 2. Containing 4 valance electrons with 2 shells and an electron configuration of 2,4. With the ion of C+4, electron configuration of 2,8.
- High Strength to weight ratio
- Rigidity
- Corrosion resistance
- Electrical Conductivity
- Fatigue Resistance
- Good tensile strength but Brittle
- Fire Resistance/Not flammable
- High Thermal Conductivity in some forms
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion
- Non poisonous
- Biologically inert
- X-Ray Permeable
- Self Lubricating
- Excellent EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) Shielding Property
- Relatively Expensive
- Requires specialized experience and equipment to use.
Carbon Fiber is very "ductile" as it is able to be woven into different things and be applied to different objects.
Carbon Fiber normally is not very "lustrous" though it does come in many different vibrante colours for super cars.
Carbon
Atomic number
6
Atomic mass
12.011 g.mol -1
Electronegativity according to Pauling
2.5
Density
2.2 g.cm-3 at 20°C
Melting point
3652 °C
Boiling point
4827 °C
Carbon is in Group 14 and Period 2 also in Block-p
Carbon fiber is frequently supplied in the form of a continuous tow wound onto a reel. The tow is a bundle of thousands of continuous individual carbon filaments held together and protected by an organic coating, or size, such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The tow can be conveniently unwound from the reel for use. Each carbon filament in the tow is a continuous cylinder with a diameter of 5–8 micrometers and consists almost exclusively of carbon. The earliest generation had diameters of 16–22 micrometers. Later fibers have diameters that are approximately 5 micrometers.
The atomic structure of carbon fiber is similar to that of graphite, consisting of sheets of carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern, the difference being in the way these sheets interlock. Graphite is a crystalline material in which the sheets are stacked parallel to one another in regular fashion. The intermolecular forces between the sheets are relatively weak Van der Waals forces, giving graphite its soft and brittle characteristics.
These are covalent bonds which were found by dutch scientist Johannes Diderik van der Waals
In 1879, Thomas Edison invented the first incandescent light bulb, which uses electricity to heat a thin strip of material, called a filament, until it glows. He may also have created the first commercial carbon fiber. To make his early filaments, Edison formed cotton threads or bamboo slivers into the proper size and shape and then baked them at high temperatures. Cotton and bamboo consist mostly of cellulose, a natural linear polymer made of repeating units of glucose. When heated, the filament was “carbonized".
Atomic number
6
Atomic mass
12.011 g.mol -1
Electronegativity according to Pauling
2.5
Density
2.2 g.cm-3 at 20°C
Melting point
3652 °C
Boiling point
4827 °C
Carbon is in Group 14 and Period 2 also in Block-p
Carbon fiber is frequently supplied in the form of a continuous tow wound onto a reel. The tow is a bundle of thousands of continuous individual carbon filaments held together and protected by an organic coating, or size, such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The tow can be conveniently unwound from the reel for use. Each carbon filament in the tow is a continuous cylinder with a diameter of 5–8 micrometers and consists almost exclusively of carbon. The earliest generation had diameters of 16–22 micrometers. Later fibers have diameters that are approximately 5 micrometers.
The atomic structure of carbon fiber is similar to that of graphite, consisting of sheets of carbon atoms arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern, the difference being in the way these sheets interlock. Graphite is a crystalline material in which the sheets are stacked parallel to one another in regular fashion. The intermolecular forces between the sheets are relatively weak Van der Waals forces, giving graphite its soft and brittle characteristics.
These are covalent bonds which were found by dutch scientist Johannes Diderik van der Waals
In 1879, Thomas Edison invented the first incandescent light bulb, which uses electricity to heat a thin strip of material, called a filament, until it glows. He may also have created the first commercial carbon fiber. To make his early filaments, Edison formed cotton threads or bamboo slivers into the proper size and shape and then baked them at high temperatures. Cotton and bamboo consist mostly of cellulose, a natural linear polymer made of repeating units of glucose. When heated, the filament was “carbonized".
Carbon Fiber Uses
Carbon Fiber was first used in Aerospace and was used to replace alloys that were made with aluminium and titanium due to weigh saving.
It is also used in sports for equipment such as tennis rackets, golf clubs, softball bats, hockey sticks, and archery arrows and bows.
Carbon Fiber is also used in Wind turbine Blades, and in many sports cars, car manufactures us it due to its durability and low weight.
Not only is it used in these products but many others around the world.
In the future carbon fiber will be utilised in many different products, such as, Alternate energy saver as it is lighter, more efficient Automobiles, Constructer and Infrastructure, Oil Exploration.
It is also used in sports for equipment such as tennis rackets, golf clubs, softball bats, hockey sticks, and archery arrows and bows.
Carbon Fiber is also used in Wind turbine Blades, and in many sports cars, car manufactures us it due to its durability and low weight.
Not only is it used in these products but many others around the world.
In the future carbon fiber will be utilised in many different products, such as, Alternate energy saver as it is lighter, more efficient Automobiles, Constructer and Infrastructure, Oil Exploration.
- Target new applications
- Develop new and lower cost technology
- Reinvest profits with long term objectives in mind – no small operators focusing on low volume, high price
- Fully understand supplier’s costs and future strategy
- Identify and focus on market driver’s
- Work to aggressively reduce costs
- Consolidate so that weaker players help strengthen the stronger ones
- Share incremental improvements to help support market growth
- Understand that the primary competitors to carbon fibers are other materials, not other carbon fiber manufacturers