Carbon fiber is a special type of fiber mainly composed of carbon elements, and its carbon content varies with different types, generally above 90%. Carbon fiber has the characteristics of typical carbon materials, such as high temperature resistance, friction resistance, conductivity, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. However, unlike typical carbon materials, its shape has significant anisotropy, softness, and can be processed into various fabrics, exhibiting high strength along the fiber axis direction. Carbon fiber has a low specific gravity, therefore it has a high specific strength.
Carbon fiber is an artificial chemical fiber with a high carbon content that does not melt during heat treatment. It is made through processes such as heat stable oxidation treatment, carbonization treatment, and graphitization.
Carbon fiber is a new material with excellent mechanical properties, with a specific gravity of less than 1/4 of steel. The tensile strength of carbon fiber resin composite materials is generally above 3500Mpa, which is 7-9 times that of steel. The tensile modulus of elasticity is 23000-43000Mpa, which is also higher than that of steel. Therefore, the specific strength of CFRP, which is the ratio of the material's strength to its density, can reach over 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.