What is Carbon Fiber?
To understand the full benefits of using carbon fiber products in manufacturing, it’s essential to understand exactly what carbon fiber is, how it’s made and used, and what products can be manufactured with it. Also known as graphite fiber, carbon fiber is a man-made polymer that is five times stronger than steel. Though it is stiff and stronger than steel, it’s also lighter, making it easier to handle and transport. This makes it a premium material choice for manufacturers, engineers, and the construction industry.
To make carbon fiber, thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon are twisted together. As thin as a strand of hair, it takes layers of filament twisted like rope to form carbon fiber. The resulting material can then be woven like thread to create a cloth or, when coated with a resin, the fibers can be used to make a permanent shape by being placed in a mold.
The Benefits of Using Carbon Fiber
A variety of industries favor carbon fiber over other materials, because the benefits of using carbon fiber outweigh those of other common manufacturing substances, such as aluminum for example.
Here are just a few of the benefits of carbon fiber:
- Lighter than steel by 70%
- 40% lighter than aluminum
- Has a high strength to weight ratio.
- Resists corrosion
- Application flexibility
- Low mass
- X-ray transparency
- Low CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion)
Considering these factors, it’s hard to imagine that carbon fiber products wouldn’t be an ideal choice for a multitude of applications in manufacturing, construction, engineering, and more. It makes sense that this material has found its niche in industries such as aerospace, automotive, military, and construction. Carbon Fiber Support is a proud supplier of superior carbon fiber products. Browse our online store or contact us today to find the right carbon fiber products for your project.