C-fibre (carbon fibre)

Carbon fibre is carbon in fibre form used in very strong and lightweight composites. The fibre is characterised by a very small elongation before it breaks (less than a quarter of the elongation of aramid fibre). Carbon fibre has the property that it does not rust under the influence of water and oxygen. The main advantages of carbon fibres are: excellent mechanical properties in both tension and pressure, good thermal resistance (no expansion), low density and good chemical stability. The disadvantages are: very expensive, fragile, sensitive to shocks and poor wear resistance. Carbon fibre composites are used in applications where low weight, high strength and high rigidity are required, such as in aerospace, in the automotive industry, in masts and booms of sailing yachts and in the construction industry. Carbon fibres are mainly used as external reinforcement.