Working with Carbon Fiber

[aerohead]

Some believe carbon fiber is the "new asbestos".Concentrate on safety and prevention if you choose to work with it.

[UltArc]

Unfortunately, that original link is no longer working.

[Shepherd777]

Our advanced composite consultant told me that carbon fiber is somewhat affordable, when compared to traditional fiberglass. He said that since we would be using much less CF yardage verses multiple layers of fiberglass to get the same strength, the difference would not be too bad.

So we are looking to do the entire cab of our new truck out of CF. I should have the full quote next week.

[Bicycle Bob]

The nice thing about carbon fiber is that it can provide exceptional rigidity compared to most other fibers, without the compression weakness of Aramid or Spectra. However, rigidity is the enemy of toughness, and in the real world, that is the way to light weight with durability. Realize that everything is a spring, and design your parts to distort in harmony.
Carbon fiber is still very energy-intensive to make, and is far too often applied for cosmetics or sales purposes, rather than being concentrated where needed. The reason F1 quit using a carbon/kevlar mix was so that when it broke, it could be patched back together like ceramics. With mostly Kevlar in a crash, you just get a bag, but the contents are safe.

[Xist]

What about Carbotanium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I know that it is even more expensive than normal carbon fiber, but it seems to have solved every limitation except for price.

[Bicycle Bob]

Much depends upon the application, so there will be a niche for carbonatium, but cost won't be the main thing keeping it exotic. It does not solve the energy intensity of carbon manufacture, nor lend itself to efficient recycling. I'd like to write volumes on the topic, but J.E. Gordon has already done so, in some of the most readable, pleasant english ever written. If you only have time for one book by him, I'd start with "Structures."

[freebeard]

Bicycle Bob -- What do you think of the method used by the Local Motors Strati?



The 3D printed carbon fiber/ABS would be isotropic, but the cellular qualities are baked in at the 3D model level.

[Bicycle Bob]

No details are given regarding the properties of the finished material, but it can't be as good as a continuous-fiber material. There are no magic bullets, and material choice is a big decision. If you want to judge exotics, read the book. If you want to build a one-off, choose from the common options the one you enjoy working with.