Carbon Fiber: Stepping Stone to the Future
A few weeks ago, I had the oppurtunity to fly on one of the most influential aircraft of all time: Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. But why is the 787 so influential? Well, it was the first aircraft to be comprised of mainly Carbon Composites. By using Carbon Fiber, Boeing was able to reduce the overall weight of the aircraft by 20%. Not only was the aircraft lighter, but the airframe was also significantly stronger when compared to traditional Aluminum alloys. In fact, some Carbon Epoxy composites have a specific tensile strength that is 3.8 times higher than that of Aluminum. Two of the properties that allow Carbon Composites to be so valuable are their lightweight nature and high tensile strength.
Boeing 787
Since Carbon Fiber is comprised of relatively lightweight elements, the overall density of Carbon Fiber is extremely low. Carbon Fiber is an appealing material for industries aiming to reduce product weight, including the Aerospace industry (for fuselages and engines), the Athletic industry (for tennis racquets, bikes, and skis), and the Automotive industry (for vehicle bodies). However, Carbon Fiber’s usefulness extends beyond weight-sensitive scenarios, as it can be utilized even when weight is not a significant factor, simply by incorporating a larger amount of it.
Carbon Fiber’s extreme strength also contributes to a wide range of applications. Stronger than Steel, Carbon Fiber can be used in almost any setting (also aided by minuscule thermal expansion). In the future, Carbon Fiber’s extreme strength may be able to help it be seen in other industries, such as structural engineering. While Concrete is strong in compression, Carbon Fiber is strong in tension, so the two could work together to create the next generation of super-tall skyscrapers. Really, the main drawback of Carbon Fiber is its price. Though, this is mainly due to its young age. With each passing year, the price will decrease.
With all of these benefits, I think that Carbon Fiber is a great material to help transition us into the future.
