Carbon fiber 160277 225038652 2008-07-11T16:18:00Z 209.56.118.3 /* History of Carbon Fiber */ {{Cleanup|date=February 2008}} {{Refimprove|date=April 2007}} [[Image:Kohlenstofffasermatte.jpg|thumb|right|Fabric made of woven carbon filaments]] <!-- Please do not change the spelling of color to colour. Wikipedia policy is to retain the English dialect used in the first nonstub version of an article. This prevents needless "spelling wars". Changing the spelling also breaks links and categories. Changing the spelling will be treated as vandalism, and for this reason will be swiftly reverted. Please see the discussion page if you want to comment. --> '''Carbon fiber''' or '''Carbon fibre'''<ref>See [[American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or|American and British English spelling differences]].</ref> (alternately called [[graphite]] fiber or graphite fibre) is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.0002-0.0004 inches (0.005-0.010 mm) in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber. The crystal alignment makes the fiber incredibly strong for its size. Several thousand carbon fibers are twisted together to form a yarn, which may be used by itself or woven into a fabric.<ref name="answers">http://www.answers.com/topic/carbon-fiber?cat=technology</ref> Carbon fiber can be combined with a [[Plastic|plastic resin]] and wound or molded to form [[composite material]]s such as [[carbon fiber reinforced plastic]] (also referenced as carbon fiber) to provide a high strength-to-weight ratio material. The density of carbon fiber is also considerably lower than the density of steel, making it ideal for applications requiring low weight.<ref> Mr. Jeremy Hierholzer, Assistant Professor of Aviation Technology, Purdue University, 2007.</ref> The properties of carbon fiber such as high tensile strength, low weight, and low thermal expansion make it very popular in aerospace, military, and motorsports, along with other competition sports. ==History of Carbon Fiber== In 1957, Dr. Roger Bacon created the first high-performance carbon fibers at the [[Union Carbide]] Parma Technical Center, located outside of [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio|Ohio]].<ref>[http://acswebcontent.acs.org/landmarks/landmarks/carbon/car3.html Bacon’s breakthrough<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>The first fibers were manufactured by heating strands of [[rayon]] until they carbonized. This process proved to be inefficient, as the resulting fibers contained only about 20% carbon and had low strength and stiffness properties. In the early [[1960s]], a process was developed using [[polyacrylonitrile]] as a raw material. This had produced a carbon fiber that contained about 55% carbon and had much better properties. The polyacrylonitrile conversion process quickly became the primary method for producing carbon fibers.<ref name="answers"/> On [[January 14]], [[1969]] Carr Reinforcements([[Stockport]], [[England]]) wove the first ever carbon fiber fabric in the world.<ref name="carr">{{cite web|title=Carr Reinforcements|url=http://www.carrreinforcements.com/about.htm|accessdate=2008-06-01}}</ref> During the [[1970s]], experimental work to find alternative raw materials led to the introduction of carbon fibers made from a petroleum pitch derived from oil processing. These fibers contained about 85% carbon and had excellent flexural strength.<ref name="answers"/> ==Structure and properties== [[Image:Cfaser haarrp.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A 6 &mu;m diameter carbon filament (running from bottom left to top right) compared to a human hair.]] Carbon fibers are the closest to [[asbestos]] in a number of properties.<ref>[http://www.wtec.org/loyola/compce/02_02.htm Properties And Fiber Types<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Each carbon filament thread is a bundle of many thousand carbon filaments. A single such filament is a thin tube with a diameter of 5–8 [[micrometre|micrometer]]s and consists almost exclusively of [[carbon]]. The atomic structure of carbon fiber is similar to that of [[graphite]], consisting of sheets of carbon [[atoms]] ([[graphene]] sheets) arranged in a regular [[hexagon|hexagonal]] pattern. The difference lies 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 [[chemical bond|chemical bonds]] between the sheets are relatively weak [[Van der Waals]] forces, giving graphite its soft and brittle characteristics. Depending upon the precursor to make the fiber, carbon fiber may be turbostratic or graphitic, or have a hybrid structure with both graphitic and turbostratic parts present. In turbostratic carbon fiber the sheets of carbon atoms are haphazardly folded, or crumpled, together. Carbon fibers derived from [[Polyacrylonitrile|Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)]] are turbostratic, whereas carbon fibers derived from [[mesophase]] [[Pitch (resin)|pitch]] are graphitic after heat treatment at temperatures exceeding 2200 C. Turbostratic carbon fibers tend to have high [[tensile strength]], wheresas heat-treated mesophase-pitch-derived carbon fibers have high [[Young's modulus]] and high [[thermal conductivity]]. ==Applications== [[Image:Unpainted-PanozDP01- CarbonFiber-2007'2-cr2wp.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Carbon Fiber [[Panoz DP01]] [[Champ Car]] (right rear quarter).]] {{For2|common applications|[[Carbon fiber reinforced plastic|Carbon fiber reinforced polymer or CFRP]]}} Carbon fiber is most notably used to reinforce [[composite material]]s, particularly the class of materials known as [[Carbon fiber reinforced plastic|Carbon fiber or graphite reinforced polymers]]. Another utilization of Carbon Fiber is its added aesthetic value to various consumer products. Carbon fiber as a tough and lightweight material is applied in the production of watch cases and dials. In watchmaking the material is often combined with polymer to improve its strength.<ref>[http://watches.infoniac.com/index.php?page=post&id=62 Carbon Fiber in Watchmaking]</ref> Non-polymer materials can also be used as the matrix for carbon fibers. Due to the formation of metal carbides (i.e., water-soluble AlC) and [[corrosion]] considerations, carbon has seen limited success in [[metal matrix composite]] applications. [[Reinforced carbon-carbon]] (RCC) consists of carbon fiber-reinforced graphite, and is used structurally in high-temperature applications. The fiber also finds use in [[filter|filtration]] of high-temperature gases, as an [[electrode]] with high surface area and impeccable [[corrosion]] resistance, and as an anti-[[Triboelectric effect|static]] component. Carbon fiber is also used in [[compressed gas]] [[storage tank|tanks]], including [[compressed air]] tanks. Carbon fiber is used in many radio controlled racing vehicles, with chassis plates and shock towers commonly composed of the material. Carbon fiber has recently been used for various decorative reasons such as doors and chairs. Carbon fibre is extensively used in the bicycle industry and for various applications in relation to the frame and componentry. Carbon fiber is now being used in musical instruments for its weather resilience and ability to recreate the tone of guitars. Carbon fiber is usually colored black. ==Synthesis== Each [[carbon]] filament is made out of long, thin filaments of carbon sometimes transformed to [[graphite]]. A common method of making carbon filaments is the oxidation and thermal [[pyrolysis]] of [[polyacrylonitrile]] (PAN), a [[polymer]] based on [[acrylonitrile]] used in the creation of synthetic materials. Like all polymers, polyacrylonitrile molecules are long chains, which are aligned in the process of drawing continuous filaments. A common method of manufacture involves heating the PAN to approximately 300 °C in air, which breaks many of the hydrogen bonds and oxidizes the material. The [[oxidized]] PAN is then placed into a furnace having an inert atmosphere of a gas such as [[argon]], and heated to approximately 2000 °C, which induces graphitization of the material, changing the molecular bond structure. When heated in the correct conditions, these chains bond side-to-side (ladder polymers), forming narrow [[graphene]] sheets which eventually merge to form a single, [[jelly roll]]-shaped or round filament. The result is usually 93-95% carbon. Lower-quality fiber can be manufactured using [[Pitch (resin)|pitch]] or [[rayon]] as the precursor instead of PAN. The carbon can become further enhanced, as high modulus, or high strength carbon, by heat treatment processes. Carbon heated in the range of 1500-2000 °C (carbonization) exhibits the highest [[tensile strength]] (820,000 [[pound force per square inch|psi]] or 5,650 MPa or 5,650 N/mm²), while carbon fiber heated from 2500 to 3000 °C (graphitizing) exhibits a higher [[modulus of elasticity]] (77,000,000 psi or 531 GPa or 531 kN/mm²). ==Textile== There are several categories of carbon fibers: standard modulus (250 [[Pascal (unit)|GPa]]), intermediate modulus (300 [[Pascal (unit)|GPa]]), and high modulus (> 300 [[Pascal (unit)|GPa]]).<ref>"Carbon Fiber Data Sheets - Continuous Fiber," ''Hexcel Corporation'', 26 November 2007</ref> The tensile strength of different yarn types varies between 2000 and 7000 [[Pascal (unit)|MPa]]. A typical [[density]] of carbon fiber is 1750 kg/m<sup>3</sup>. Precursors for carbon fibers are PAN, rayon and pitch. Carbon fiber filament yarns are used in several processing techniques: the direct uses are for prepregging, filament winding, pultrusion, weaving, braiding etc. Carbon fiber yarn is rated by the linear density (weight per unit length = 1 g/1000 m = tex) or by number of filaments per yarn count, in thousands. For example, 200 tex for 3,000 filaments of carbon fiber is 3 times as strong as 1,000 carbon fibers but is also 3 times as heavy. This thread can then be used to [[weave]] a carbon fiber filament [[Textile|fabric]] or [[cloth]]. The appearance of this fabric generally depends on the linear density of the yarn and the weave chosen. Some commonly used types of weave are [[twill]], [[Satin weave|satin]] and [[Plain weave|plain]]. ==Manufacturers== '''PAN aerospace/high end carbon fiber:'''<br /> [[Toray Industries]] (largest worldwide manufacturer)<br /> [[Toho Tenax]]<br /> [[Mitsubishi]]<br /> [[Hexcel]]<br /> [[Cytec Industries]]<br /> <br /> '''PAN commercial grade carbon fiber:'''<br /> Zoltek<br /> SGL<br /> Fortafil<br /> <br /> '''Pitch carbon fiber:'''<br /> [[Sumitomo Group|Sumitomo]]<br /> ==See also== *[[Carbon nanotube]] *[[Carbon fiber reinforced plastic|Carbon fiber reinforced polymers]] *[[Reinforced carbon-carbon]] ==Chemistry and Synthesis of Carbon Fiber== *[http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/mjames/homepage.html The Chemistry of Carbon Fiber] *[http://pslc.ws/macrog/carfsyn.htm Making Carbon Fiber] ==Notes== <references /> ==External links== {{commons|Category:Carbon_fibres|Carbon fibres}} *[http://acswebcontent.acs.org/landmarks/landmarks/carbon/car3.html Bacon's breakthrough] at ACS.org *[http://pslc.ws/macrog/carfib.htm Carbon Fiber] at ps {{fibers}} [[Category:Carbon forms]] [[Category:Synthetic fibers]] [[Category:Woven fabrics]] [[Category:Nonwoven fabrics]] [[Category:Net fabrics]] [[bg:Въглеродно влакно]] [[cs:Uhlíkové vlákno]] [[da:Kulfiber]] [[de:Kohlenstofffaser]] [[es:Fibra de carbono]] [[fr:Fibre de carbone]] [[it:Fibra di carbonio]] [[nl:Koolstofvezel]] [[ja:炭素繊維]] [[no:Karbonfiber]] [[pl:Włókno węglowe]] [[ru:Углеродное волокно]] [[simple:Carbon fiber]] [[fi:Hiilikuitu]] [[sv:Kolfiber]] [[uk:Вуглеволокно]] [[zh:碳纖維]] [[zh-yue:碳纖維]]