The Versatile Uses of Top Quality Carbon Fibre
Possibly no modern man-made product has had such a revolutionary effect on manufacturing as that of top quality carbon fibre and its related materials. The sheer versatility of this composite material, in all its available variations, has meant a leap forward in the performance of so many products, from sporting goods and aerospace applications, to civil construction and consumer gadgets.
Carbon fibre products are part of a family of reinforced plastics, a highly refined structural version of the familiar “fiberglass” concept. This material is often referred to as “carbon fibre reinforced plastic” (CFRP) or more correctly, “carbon fibre reinforced polymer”. Being a composite material composed of one of several polymer types, reinforced with one or more different forms of carbon fibres, CFRP’s most valuable property is its light weight combined with extraordinary strength. This favorable strength to weight ratio is what has prompted its application to the manufacture of products as diverse as yacht spars and rigging components, bicycle parts, automotive materials and poles for tents. The polymer base is often an epoxy, but can consist of vinyl esters, nylon or polyester. The reinforcing fibres vary in size and ratio, and may include the usual “glass” fibres, aluminium, or Kevlar in addition to carbon-based material.
As a developing new compound, top quality carbon fibre was initially expensive to manufacture, and its use was limited to replacing industrial products that traditionally were subject to rust, structural fatigue or needed lightweight engineering. As manufacturing techniques became increasingly cost effective, however, it has become economically viable to produce small sized mass market consumer goods such as tennis racquets, helmets, fishing rods, archery components, canoes and laptops from CFRP compounds. An additional property of this material is the ease with which it can be molded, extruded and even recycled, making it suitable for the production of attractive and sophisticated consumer ware.
To date, the most top quality carbon fibre available in the technical sense would be the composite known as CNRP (carbon nanotube reinforced polymer). The fibres used in this material are virtually microscopic, interlocking hollow tubes of carbon, and their structural strength is several times that of standard CFRP. Predictably, this material is the most expensive to produce, so its application has been restricted to high ticket goods such as premium baseball bats, golf clubs, racing cars and light aircraft. The future of top quality carbon fibre remains exciting as new innovative products reach a new generation of consumers every year.
