Commercial and Industrial Uses
The commercial and industrial applications of carbon fibre are vast. This section explores how carbon fibre is used across different sectors.
Sporting Goods
For sporting goods, carbon fibre stands out from alternative materials, such as aluminium, thanks to its reduced weight and heightened strength.
Examples of carbon fibre across sports includes:
Golf:
Carbon fibre is used to manufacture lightweight golf club shafts for better performance.
Tennis:
Durable and lightweight tennis racquets made from carbon fibre improve handling and speed.
Winter Sports:
Skis and snowboards using carbon fibre offer a competitive edge with their lightness and durability.
Hockey:
Hockey sticks made from carbon fibre are easier to handle and more durable.
Fishing:
Fishing rods made from carbon fibre are corrosion-resistant, perfect for wet environments.
Cycling:
Carbon fibre is widely used in bicycle frames to enhance performance and in crash helmets for better impact resistance.
Automobile
The low weight of carbon fibre ensures fuel efficiency and heightened performance, while durability secures vehicle safety for automobile and competitive racing applications:
Body components:
Carbon fibre can be incorporated into the wing/fender, engine hood, spoilers, doors, and the roof.
Wheels:
Carbon fibre can improve handling and driving experience.
Structural components:
Components such as the chassis, roof frame, and windshield frames can be made from carbon fibre.
Tyres:
For improved handling and contact on the road, carbon fibre can be used within tyres.
Interior design:
Automobile interiors can be heightened with carbon fibre wraps and interior components.
Military
The impressive properties of carbon fibre make it suitable for use in a wide range of military equipment also, including:
Missiles:
Carbon fibre used in missiles for fuel efficiency thanks to its low weight.
Drones:
Strength and lightweight for drones in high performance applications.
Trucks:
Carbon fibre has use in structural components, wheels, and interior.
Helmets:
Impact resistance and reduced weight for head protection.
Tent posts:
The low weight makes tent posts easier to transport and erect.
Tactical ladders:
Lightweight yet robust carbon fibre ladders for tactical operation.
Renewable Energy
In the renewable energy sector, carbon fibre is widely used in wind turbine blades. Replacing traditional fibreglass materials, carbon fibre provides:
- Structural stiffness without adding unnecessary weight.
- Improved energy generation efficiency, helping turbines operate more effectively.
Energy Storage Systems
An emerging field is the use of carbon fibre in energy storage systems. This includes structural composite energy storage devices for batteries and supercapacitors. Carbon fibre’s corrosion resistance, strength, and reduced weight make it ideal for these evolving electric technologies.
Carbon Fibre in Flight
The aerospace industry relies heavily on carbon fibre for aircraft bodies, wings, and engine components. The material offers:
- Improved strength and fuel efficiency due to its reduced weight.
- Simplified fabrication methods, reducing the number of parts.
- Corrosion resistance in demanding environments, ensuring longevity and safety.
- Improved aerodynamic performance through reduced drag and weight.
Décor and Interior Design
Carbon fibre is also used in commercial spaces and residential homes for its luxury aesthetic and design flexibility. It offers a smooth finish, making it both visually appealing and safe. Common applications include:
Carbon fibre furnishings include:
- Coffee tables
- Wash basins
- Chairs and stools
- Shelving
- Candle holders and ornaments
Take a look at ThreeOneFour Studio for stunning examples of carbon fibre décor.
Carbon Fibre For The Marine Industry
For the marine sector, particularly in racing yachts and smaller vessels, carbon fibre improves performance through weight reduction. It can also withstand corrosive saltwater, ensuring long-term durability.
Examples include:
- Masts
- Booms
- Bowsprits
- Boat hulls
Civil Engineering
In construction and civil engineering, carbon fibre is increasingly used to replace traditional materials like steel. It reinforces structures, providing:
- Tensile strength and corrosion resistance.
- The ability to use thinner layers of concrete, reducing material consumption and enhancing the structural integrity of buildings.
Carbon Fibre Science
What makes carbon fibre suitable for so many diverse applications? This section explains the science behind carbon fibre and its unique advantages.
Carbon Fibre Benefits
- Low weight combined with high strength.
- Corrosion-resistant and chemically inert, meaning it’s stable in harsh environments.
- Thermal and electrical conductivity, making it ideal for applications requiring heat and electricity transfer.
- Transparency on x-ray machines, giving it versatility in medical and security settings.
How Strong is Carbon Fibre?
To put this into perspective, carbon fibre is about five times stronger than steel and twice as stiff.
What is Carbon Fibre Made Of?
As a composite material, carbon fibre is made from carbon fibres which consist of organic polymers and additional materials as required for the application. These fibres are drawn into stands, woven, and set in a resin.
What Is a Composite Material?
Carbon fibre is a composite material, consisting of carbon fibres and resin. These fibres are woven into strands and set in resin to create a lightweight, high-strength material.
What is the Classification of Composite Materials?
Composite materials are typically classified as:
- Particle reinforced
- Fibre reinforced
- Structural reinforced
Carbon fibre is classified as a fibre reinforced material, since fibres reinforce the resin matrix for additional strength.
You can read our article about the different types of carbon fibre patterns.
What are the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fibre?
Carbon fibre is known for its high strength.
Despite its fibres having a diameter of ~ 5 μm (0.005 millimetres), carbon fibre has a high strength of around 3-7 GPa.
Modern Carbon Fibre Advancements
What does the future hold for carbon fibre?
We’re currently seeing advancements in recycled carbon fibre, as well as carbon fibres use in 3D printing.
Recycled Carbon Fibre
Recycled carbon fibre is a developing material which aims to reduce the amount of carbon fibre in landfill by repurposing it.
For more on recycled carbon fibre, see our blog which explores its benefits, uses, and the process of recycling carbon fibre.
How Can Carbon Fibre be Utilised Together with 3D Printing?
Another area of development is carbon fibres used in 3D printing processes. Using a filament 3D printer, fibre can be incorporated into three dimensional parts to enhance strength, stiffness and dimensional stability of the plastic part.
Chopped carbon fibre 3D printing materials can be used like normal 3D printing plastics, boosting material properties.
In this application, carbon fibre is not woven, therefore does not have a comparable strength to its woven counterpart. Its appearance is also more like a plastic.
What is the Advantage of Carbon Fibre Compared to Other 3D Printed Materials?
Compared to traditional polymer-based 3D printed materials, chopped carbon fibre-reinforced 3D printed materials offer:
- More complex designs can be achieved from CAD
- Reduces likelihood of creep
- Prototyping capabilities
- Reduced part weight
- Speed of process
- Strength of part
- Heat-resistance
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