High strength: The strength of carbon fiber is amazing, several times or even dozens of times that of steel. This means that the use of carbon fiber materials can greatly reduce the weight of the structure while maintaining good mechanical properties under the same force conditions. For example, in the aerospace field, carbon fiber is widely used in the manufacture of key components such as wings and fuselages of aircraft, which not only improves the performance of aircraft, but also significantly reduces fuel consumption.
Low density: In stark contrast to high strength, carbon fiber has a very low density, only about one-fifth that of steel. This low density makes carbon fiber an ideal material for lightweight design, and in automobile manufacturing, the use of carbon fiber to make body parts can effectively reduce the curb weight of the vehicle, improve fuel economy and acceleration performance.
Good corrosion resistance: Carbon fiber has excellent chemical stability and is able to resist the erosion of various chemicals. In the fields of marine engineering, chemical industry, etc., traditional metal materials are susceptible to corrosion and damage, while carbon fiber materials can maintain stable performance for a long time, greatly extending the service life of equipment.
Excellent thermal properties: carbon fiber can still maintain good mechanical properties in high temperature environment, and has high heat resistance. At the same time, it has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and can maintain dimensional stability in an environment with large temperature changes, which makes it widely used in aerospace, electronics and other fields.
Classification by precursor type: Carbon fiber can be divided into polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber, asphalt-based carbon fiber and viscose-based carbon fiber. Among them, polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber is the most widely used one at present, which has high strength and modulus, and the production cost is relatively low; Bituminous-based carbon fiber has a high modulus and good thermal conductivity, which is suitable for some special applications; Due to its complex production process and high cost, viscose-based carbon fiber has relatively few applications.
Classification by performance: It can be divided into general-purpose carbon fiber and high-performance carbon fiber. The performance of general-purpose carbon fiber is relatively low, and it is mainly used in some fields with low performance requirements, such as sporting goods, building reinforcement, etc.; High-performance carbon fiber has higher strength and modulus, and is mainly used in high-end fields such as aerospace and defense.
Aerospace: Carbon fiber is an indispensable material for the aerospace sector. It is widely used in the manufacture of structural components such as wings, fuselages, and tails of aircraft, as well as high-temperature components such as fan blades and turbine blades of engines. The use of carbon fiber materials can greatly reduce the weight of the aircraft, improve flight performance, and reduce operating costs.
Automotive industry: In the automotive industry, carbon fiber is becoming more and more widely used. In addition to the manufacture of body parts, it is also used to manufacture parts such as chassis, seats, and engine covers of automobiles. The use of carbon fiber not only reduces the weight of the car and improves fuel economy, but also improves the handling performance and safety of the car.
Sporting goods: Carbon fiber also has a wide range of applications in the field of sporting goods, such as golf clubs, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, bicycles, etc. The use of carbon fiber materials makes these sporting goods have better performance and feel, and are deeply loved by athletes and consumers.
Electronic devices: Due to its good conductivity and electromagnetic shielding properties, carbon fiber is widely used in the manufacture of electronic devices, such as the shell of a laptop, the frame of a mobile phone, etc. The use of carbon fiber materials can improve the strength and heat dissipation performance of electronic devices, while reducing the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the human body.
Building reinforcement: In the construction sector, carbon fiber can be used for the reinforcement and repair of buildings. By pasting carbon fiber cloth on the surface of the building, the bearing capacity and seismic performance of the building can be improved, and the service life of the building can be prolonged.