Main carbon applications
Carbon was first invented near Cliveland, Ohio in 1958, but this process was inefficient as only 20% of the final fiber was carbon. Later a new manufacturing process was developed and carbon manufacturing industry began to grow.
Today, the leading companies that make the highest qualities are from Japan, and have many carbon yarn manufacturing sites around the world. In the early years, carbon composites have been very expensive, so were rarely used, and most exclusively for aerospace applications. However, as time passed, carbon fiber became affordable for more applications, manufacturing techniques have improved, and all this resulted in increased (and growing) consumption.
Examples of carbon manufactured products are:
Over other materials carbin fiber offers many benefits. Some of them are listed below.
Today, the leading companies that make the highest qualities are from Japan, and have many carbon yarn manufacturing sites around the world. In the early years, carbon composites have been very expensive, so were rarely used, and most exclusively for aerospace applications. However, as time passed, carbon fiber became affordable for more applications, manufacturing techniques have improved, and all this resulted in increased (and growing) consumption.
Examples of carbon manufactured products are:
- Sporting goods: Surf boards, bikes, fishing rods, tennis rackets, hokey sticks, running shoes.
- Automotive – motor racing: Bodywork parts (like doors, hoods etc,) structural components (like chassis,) mechanical (like drive shafts) and protection (like helmets, shock absorbers.)
- Marine: Manufacturing of boats, yachts and ships, structural and non structural parts.
- Defense and aerospace: Aircrafts, vehicles, armor etc.
- Musical instruments: Guitars (and other stringed,) drums, as well as wind instruments.
- Wind industry: Turbine blades.
- Electronic fields: Printed circuit, house electronic equipment, PCs, camera bodies.
- Medical science: Wheel chairs, artificial body parts, x-ray transparent operation tables.
- Construction: Bridge building, building close to sea and harsh weather conditions, old building rehabilitation.
- Environment and energy fields: Fuel batteries, oil industry.
Over other materials carbin fiber offers many benefits. Some of them are listed below.
- High strength
- Light in weight
- Corrosion resistance
- Excellent creep resistance
- Good thermal and electrical conductivity
- Compatible with most resin systems
- Very high dimensional stability
- Low thermal expansion coefficient
- X-ray permeability