Carbon fiber refers to an inorganic polymer with a carbon content of more than 90% by high-temperature decomposition (1000 ° C - 3000 ° C) under the protection of inert gas under high temperature (1000 ° C - 3000 ° C). material. Carbon fiber has excellent properties of high electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, high-temperature resistance, and lightweight. Its excellent mechanical properties are unmatched by steel and other alloy metals. Although its specific gravity is only one-quarter of that of steel, its tensile strength can reach 7 times that of steel. In addition, carbon fiber is also highly resistant to corrosion and shock absorption. It is widely used in aerospace, automotive wind power, medical equipment, building reinforcement, and petrochemical industries. The promotion of carbon fiber further promotes the rapid development of the global economy and industrial civilization. It is also known as “black gold” in the world. [1][2]
1 Development history and development status
The discovery of carbon fiber originated in the mid-18th century. The famous British inventor Swan and American inventor Edison made the earliest carbon fiber by using bamboo and cellulose then used it in the filament of electric lamps. In 1959, Dr. Shinji of Japan used PAN as a raw material for the research and development of carbon fiber. Professor Otani of Japan successfully developed pitch-based carbon fiber by using coal coke and by-products in the petroleum refining process (asphalt).In 1 1965, viscose-based carbon fiber was developed by UCC in the United States. The main material is viscose. In 1966, the Royal Institute of Materials Research, the Royal Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, through the improvement of carbon fiber technology, developed a complete set of high-strength, high-modulus PAN-based carbon fiber, until 1969, such as the power company world It was the first to develop a PAN-based carbon fiber precursor which was copolymerized with a special monomer, and combined with the carbon fiber production technology of the United States at that time, produced the carbon fiber with the highest strength and modulus at that time. This has stimulated the wave of research on carbon fiber in the world. In the same period, the United States, Germany, and other countries have independently carried out research and development of raw silk and carbon fiber by introducing advanced carbon fiber technology from other countries. However, from the current international research and development of carbon fiber and production, Toray is still the world leader in carbon fiber R&D and manufacturing. [1]-[6]
2 Carbon fiber classification
According to the different carbon fibers of the precursor, it can be divided into four categories: PAN-based carbon fiber, pitch-based carbon fiber, viscose-based carbon fiber, and phenolic-based carbon fiber. According to the mechanical properties, carbon fiber can be divided into ultra-high modulus carbon fiber, high-strength carbon fiber, high modulus carbon fiber, ultra-high strength carbon fiber, high-performance carbon fiber and universal carbon fiber. The modulus of ultra-high modulus carbon fiber needs to be greater than 450GPa. The strength of high strength carbon fiber needs to be greater than 4 000 MPa. According to the tow, it can be divided into 1K24K small tow fiber and 48~480K large tow fiber. [7][9]
3 Carbon fiber application status
3.1 Aerospace field
Aerospace is a traditional market for international carbon fiber applications. For decades, the use of carbon fiber composites in the aerospace industry has grown steadily. Developed countries such as the United States have developed carbon fiber-phenolic heat-resistant composite materials, high-strength and high-toughness carbon fiber-epoxy composite materials, high-temperature carbon fiber composite materials and other products, widely used in strategic missiles, launch vehicles, advanced fighters, satellites, aircraft engines. Guide vanes, wings, and ducting components. Carbon fiber has become an essential strategic basis for aerospace and sophisticated weaponry. [3]- [7],[10]
3.2 Sports field
The sports sector is currently the second largest consumer of carbon fiber. In recent years, the sports sector has consumed 5,000 tons of carbon fiber per year. From 2006 to 2015, the demand for carbon fiber in the sports sector has maintained a growth rate of 3% per year. The application of carbon fiber in the field of sports goods mainly focuses on high-end sporting goods such as golf clubs, fishing rods, bicycles, and snowboards. Compared to traditional metal materials, carbon fiber materials can reduce weight by up to 50%. [1][3]
3.3 Automotive field
With the increasing demand for automobiles, the lightweight and safety of automobiles and the efficiency of engine efficiency have become one of the main reference factors for contemporary automobile consumption. Carbon fiber materials have become ideal structural materials. At present, carbon fiber is widely used in various parts such as pushrods, connecting rods and drive shafts of automobile engines, and also has many applications in automobile accelerators, chassis suspensions, and door parts. [1][10]
3.4 Other areas
in addition to the above three areas, carbon fiber materials are widely used in other industries due to their strong physical properties. For example, in wind power generation, carbon fiber is widely used in the manufacture of blades for separating generators. In the construction sector, bulk carbon fiber is used in buildings such as roofs, concrete, and bridges. In the oil field, it is used in oil sucker rods, oil transportation pipelines, drilling platforms, and other fields. In short, carbon fiber has great reference prospects in various industries due to its many advantages, and carbon fiber materials will inevitably become the main materials in the future.[1][3][7]
4 Reference
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[6] Jérôme, P. (2019). Composite Materials in the Airbus A380 - From History to Future -. [online] Iccm-central.org. Available at: http://www.iccm-central.org/Proceedings/ICCM13proceedings/SITE/PAPERS/paper-1695.pdf [Accessed 26 Mar. 2019].
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