Carbon Fiber reinforced
composite materials
Fiber reinforced composite materials can be divided into two main categories normally referred to as short fiber reinforced materials and continuous fiber reinforced materials.
Continuous reinforced materials will often constitute a layered or laminated structure. The woven and continuous fiber styles are typically available in a variety of forms, being pre-impregnated with the given matrix (resin), dry, uni-directional tapes of various widths, plain weave, harness satins, braided, and stitched.
The short and long fibers are typically employed in compression molding and sheet molding operations.These come in the form of flakes, chips, and random mate (which can also be made from a continuous fiber laid in random fashion until the desired thickness of the ply / laminate is achieved).
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP or CRP), is a very strong, light and expensive composite material or fiber reinforced plastic. Similar to glass-reinforced plastic, sometimes known by the name fiberglass, the composite material is commonly referred to by the name of its reinforcing fibers (carbon fiber, glas fiber). The plastic is most often epoxy, but other plastics, such as polyester, vinyl ester or nylon, are also sometimes used.
Some composites contain both carbon fiber and other fibres such as kevlar, aluminium and fiberglass reinforcement. They are known as hybrid composites.
F1 monocoque - hibrid composite structure
The terms graphite-reinforced plastic or graphite fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) are also used but less commonly, since glass-(fibre)-reinforced plastic can also be called GFRP.
Carbon fiber composite has many applications in aerospace and automotive fields, as well as in sailboats, and notably in modern bicycles, motorcycles and sport cars, where these qualities are of importance. Improved manufacturing techniques are reducing the costs and time to manufacture making it increasingly common in small consumer goods as well, such as laptop computers, tripods, fishing rods, racquet sports frames.
Comparsion of termal caracteristics:
- GFRP Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics
- CFRP Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics
- AFRP Aramid Fiber Reinforced Plastics
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) is superior to steel or glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) in its specific tensile strength and specific elastic modulus (specific rigidity). That is to say, CFRP is "Light in Weight and Strong" in its mechanical performances.
Composite honeycomb structure
