The main use of carbon fiber is to compound with resins, metals, ceramics and other matrices to make structural materials. The comprehensive indexes of specific strength and specific modulus of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites are the highest among existing structural materials. In the field of density, stiffness, weight, fatigue characteristics and other strict requirements, in the occasion of high temperature and high chemical stability, carbon fiber composite materials are quite advantageous.
Carbon fiber was produced in the early 50s in response to the needs of cutting-edge science and technology such as rocketry, aerospace and aviation, and is also widely used in sports equipment, textiles, chemical machinery and medical fields. With the increasingly demanding requirements of cutting-edge technology for the technical performance of new materials, scientific and technological workers are constantly striving to improve. In the early 80s, high-performance and ultra-high-performance carbon fiber appeared one after another, which was another technological leap forward, and also marked an advanced stage in the research and production of carbon fiber.
Composites made of carbon fiber and epoxy resin are an advanced aerospace material due to their low specific gravity, good rigidity and high strength. This is because for every 1 kilogram reduction in the weight of a space vehicle, a 500-kilogram reduction in the weight of the launch vehicle can be achieved. As a result, advanced composites are being used in the aerospace industry. There is a vertical take-off and landing fighter, and the carbon fiber composite material used in it has accounted for 1/4 of the weight of the whole aircraft and 1/3 of the weight of the wing. According to reports, the key components of the three rocket thrusters on the US Space Shuttle, as well as the advanced MX missile launch tubes, are all made of advanced carbon fiber composite materials.
In an Formula 1 (Formula One World Championship) car, most of the body structure is made of carbon fiber. One of the main selling points of the top sports car is the use of carbon fibre throughout the body to improve aerodynamics and structural strength. Carbon fiber can be processed into fabrics, felts, mats, belts, paper and other materials. In addition to being used as thermal insulation materials, carbon fiber in traditional use is generally not used alone, but is mostly added to resin, metal, ceramic, concrete and other materials as reinforcing materials to form composite materials. Carbon fiber-reinforced composites can be used as structural materials for aircraft, electromagnetic shielding and de-energizing materials, artificial ligaments and other body substitute materials, as well as in the manufacture of rocket shells, motor boats, industrial robots, automotive leaf springs and drive shafts, etc.
