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The processing, properties, and structure of carbon fibers

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Abstract

This paper reviews the processing, properties, and structure of carbon fibers. Carbon fibers are derived from several precursors, with polyacrylonitrile being the predominant precursor used today. Carbon fibers have high strength (3–7 GPa), high modulus (200–500 GPa), compressive strength (1–3 GPa), shear modulus (10–15 GPa), and low density (1.75–2.00 g/cm3). Carbon fibers made from pitch can have modulus, thermal, and electrical conductivities as high as 900 GPa, 1,000 W/mK, and 106 S/m, respectively. These fibers have become a dominant material in the aerospace industry and their use in the automotive and other industries is growing as their cost continues to come down.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia

    Marilyn MInus & Satish Kumar

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  1. Marilyn MInus
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  2. Satish Kumar
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Additional information

For more information, contact Satish Kumar, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering, 801 Ferst Drive, NW MRDC-1, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0295; (404) 894-7550; fax (404) 894-8780; e-mail satish.kumar@ptfe.gatech.edu.

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MInus, M., Kumar, S. The processing, properties, and structure of carbon fibers. JOM 57, 52–58 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-005-0217-8

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