What is carbon fiber composite material? What are the uses of carbon fiber composite material?

What is carbon fiber composite material? Carbon fiber is composited with resin, metal, ceramic and other matrices, and the structural material made is referred to as carbon fiber composite material. The following editor will introduce to you in detail what carbon fiber composite materials are.

1. Overview of carbon fiber composite materials

In the large family of composite materials, fiber reinforced materials have always been the focus of attention. Since the advent of FRP composited with glass fiber and organic resin, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber and boron fiber reinforced composite materials have been successfully developed and their properties have been continuously improved, making the field of composite materials full of vitality. Let’s take a look at the unique carbon fiber composite materials.

2. Carbon fiber composite material structure

Carbon fiber is a special fiber mainly composed of carbon elements. Its carbon content varies with different types, generally above 90%. Carbon fiber has the characteristics of general carbon materials, such as high temperature resistance, friction resistance, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. However, unlike general carbon materials, its shape is significantly anisotropic, soft, and can be processed into various shapes. The fabric exhibits high strength along the fiber axis. Carbon fiber has a small specific gravity and therefore has a high specific strength.

Carbon fiber is made from man-made chemical fibers with a high carbon content that do not melt during heat treatment, through thermally stable oxidation treatment, carbonization and graphitization.

Carbon fiber is a new material with excellent mechanical properties. Its specific gravity is less than 1/4 of steel. The tensile strength of carbon fiber resin composite materials is generally above 3500Mpa, which is 7 to 9 times that of steel. The tensile elastic modulus is 23000~43000Mpa, which is also higher than steel. Therefore, the specific strength of CFRP, that is, the ratio of the strength of the material to its density, can reach more than 2000Mpa/(g/cm3), while the specific strength of A3 steel is only about 59Mpa/(g/cm3), and its specific modulus is also higher than that of steel.

3. Uses of carbon fiber composite materials

The main use of carbon fiber is to combine with resin, metal, ceramic and other matrices to make structural materials. The comprehensive index of specific strength and specific modulus of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite materials is the highest among existing structural materials. In fields with strict requirements on density, stiffness, weight, fatigue properties, etc., and in situations where high temperature and high chemical stability are required, carbon fiber composite materials have considerable advantages.

Carbon fiber was produced in the early 1950s in response to the needs of cutting-edge science and technology such as rockets, aerospace and aviation. It is now also widely used in sports equipment, textiles, chemical machinery and medical fields. As cutting-edge technology has increasingly stringent requirements on the technical performance of new materials, scientific and technological workers are prompted to continuously strive to improve. In the early 1980s, high-performance and ultra-high-performance carbon fibers appeared one after another, which was another technological leap and also marked that the research and production of carbon fibers had entered an advanced stage.

Composite materials composed of carbon fiber and epoxy resin have become an advanced aerospace material due to their low specific gravity, good rigidity and high strength. Because for every 1 kilogram reduction in the weight of the spacecraft, the launch vehicle can be reduced by 500 kilograms. Therefore, there is a rush to adopt advanced composite materials in the aerospace industry. There is a vertical take-off and landing fighter aircraft. The carbon fiber composite material used in it accounts for 1/4 of the weight of the entire aircraft and 1/3 of the weight of the wings. According to reports, the key components of the three rocket thrusters on the U.S. space shuttle and the advanced MX missile launch tube are all made of advanced carbon fiber composite materials.

Most of the current F1 (Formula One World Championship) car body structures are made of carbon fiber materials. A major selling point of top sports cars is the use of carbon fiber throughout the body to improve aerodynamics and structural strength

Carbon fiber can be processed into fabrics, felts, mats, belts, paper and other materials. In traditional use, in addition to being used as thermal insulation materials, carbon fibers are generally not used alone. They are mostly used as reinforcing materials and added to resin, metal, ceramics, concrete and other materials to form composite materials.

Carbon fiber reinforced composite materials can be used as aircraft structural materials, electromagnetic shielding and antistatic materials, artificial ligaments and other body replacement materials, as well as in the manufacture of rocket shells, motor ships, industrial robots, automobile leaf springs and drive shafts, etc.

4. Advantages of carbon fiber composite materials

1. High strength (5 times that of steel)

2. Excellent heat resistance (can withstand 2000 High temperatures above ℃)

3. Excellent thermal shock resistance

4. Low thermal expansion coefficient (small deformation)

5. Small heat capacity (energy saving) )

6. Small specific gravity (1/5 of steel)

7. Excellent corrosion resistance and radiation performance

Carbon fiber composite materials are widely used. There are many advantages too. I believe you have some understanding of these through reading the above. For more information, please pay attention to Tubatu Decoration.