Carbon fiber is a polymer which is a form of graphite. Graphite is a form of pure carbon. In graphite the carbon atoms are arranged into big sheets of hexagonal aromatic rings. The sheets look like chicken wire.
The model on the right above is an image of the
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For more on the ugly details of how carbon fibers are made, go here to find out.
Actually, the details are quite beautiful, but then you gotta love chemistry to appreciate them.
Carbon fiber is a form of graphite in which these sheets are long and thin. You might think of them as ribbons of graphite. Bunches of these ribbons like to pack together to form fibers, hence the name carbon fiber. These fibers are incredibly strong, even stronger than aramid fibers!
These fibers aren't used by themselves. Instead, they're used to reinforce materials like epoxy resins and other thermosetting materials. We call these reinforced materials composites because they have more than one component.
Carbon fiber reinforced composites are very strong for their weight. They're often stronger than steel, but a whole lot lighter. Because of this, they can be used to replace metals in many uses, from parts for airplanes and the space shuttle to tennis rackets and golf clubs.
The image on the right shows a "mat" of woven carbon fibers. This kind of two-dimensional weaving orients the molecules in the fibers the layer to maximize strength. Such mats are used to make carbon composites.
Here's an example of a carbon composite in use. In this particular case, that "use" is for the entire frame of the bicycle shown. It's so light that you can pick up the whole bike with just one finger. Incredible!
Even more incredible is how strong the carbon composite is. In fact, it's stronger even the a steel frame of the same size. And all with a weight that's so much less. Sorry, but here's the bad news: it costs a whole lot more than a regular bike, so only a professional bike racer (or someone filthy rich) can afford one.
Carbon fiber is often made from another polymer (see above), called polyacrylonitrile, by a complicated heating process. Click here to find out how. Carbon fiber is also made from other starting materials (such as pitch) that we'll discuss at a future date.
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