ENGR45, SRJC, 2012
By: Charlie Tacchi
Zack Peters
Cody Van Beek
Philip Tran
About Carbon Fiber:
• Composite Material
• About 4.5 to 6.5 microns in diameter
• In bundles, 5x as strong & 2x as stiff
as steel
• 2/3 the weight of steel
• Tensile Strength of 5.9 GPa
• Tensile Modulus of 300 GPa
• 4 different weaves
Brief History of Carbon Fiber
• 1879, Thomas Edison experimented with
carbon fiber, using it as the filament for his
light bulbs
• 1958, Roger Bacon discovered the tensile
strength of carbon fiber and was the first to
create the modern fiber with petroleumbased polymer
• US Air force and NASA began using
carbon fiber for its applications to aircrafts
and spacecrafts
Applications of Carbon Fiber Overview:
• Sporting Equipment
• Automotive Parts
• Aerospace Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Medical Applications
• Environmental Applications
• Things at Home
Applications in Sports:
• Ice Hockey Sticks
• Track Spikes
• Bicycle Frames
• Helmets
• Motor Racing
• Tennis Rackets
• Golf Clubs
• Cricket Bats
• Gliders
• Surfboards
• Rowing Shells
Application in the Automotive Industry:
• Racing car chassis
• Hoods
• Car emblems
• Mufflers
• Interior panels of a car
• Steering wheels
• Parts and parts and
more parts
Application in Civil Engineering
• Carbon Fiber Reinforced
Polymer is can be applied to
reinforce concrete structures
• The high strength of carbon
fiber enables it to be used as a
prestresser
• High corrosion resistance
allows for use in offshore
environments
• Used in PCCP lines to
reinforce the pipes
Applications in Aerospace Engineering
• Aircraft:
 main wings
 Tail units
 Fuselages
 Ailerons
 Rudders
 Elevators
 Floor panel
 Beams
 Lavatory units
 Seats
• Rockets:
 Nozzle cones
 Motor cases
• Satellites:
 Antennas
 Solar battery panels
 Tube truss structural materials
Applications in the Medical Field
• Radiographic imaging table tops,
cradles, couches, and pallet
• Table top extensions & accessories
• Oncology treatment overlays
• Positioning products
• Surgical table components
Other Applications
• Audio Equipment
• Music Instruments
• Firearms
• Laptops
• High-end knives
• Toilet seats
• Much more
What did we want to test and observe?
• Tensile Strength of Carbon Fiber
• Elasticity Modulus
• Deformation
Results
The results were inconclusive for the following reasons:
• Inadequate testing methods
o Clamping
 The fibers tore at the bolts
o Resin
 The resin broke off the shaft of the steel tensile sample
o Tying a knot
 The single strand tore at the knot
Some Pictures of Results
Random Pictures…..
Carbon Fiber Data from Sources
Sources:
http://www.tohotenax.com/tenax/en/products/pro_carbon01.php
http://www.hj3.com/company/history-of-carbon-fiber/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-fiberreinforced_polymer#Aerospace_engineering
http://www.protechcomposites.com/pages/About-Carbon-Fiber.html
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/carbon-fiber-oilcrisis1.htm
http://theprojectjunkie.com/resources-guides-tutorials/39/carbon-fiber-basics.html
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8129017.html
http://www.yoeleo.com/weave
http://www.dragonplate.com/sections/technology.asp
http://www.hexcel.com/products/cf_carbonfibers