How carbon fiber is made?
- Injection of the organic polymer into a vat of molten carbon fiber.
- The carbon fiber is then heated until it liquefies and forms a thick film on the bottom of the vat.
- The organic polymer is then used to thicken and form the fibers in the carbon fiber.
Spinning all the components together to make a fiber low structure can stabilize the structure. Carbonizing the structure can make it harder to tear and cause it to last longer. Treating the surface can improve adhesive properties. Sizing the fibers can create different types of structures.
A lot of manpower is also required to produce a quality product. The execution of all these steps makes the final product expensive.
How aluminum is made?
While making carbon fiber is long and extensive, aluminum is made in only two phases. The first phase is the manufacturing process of creating the fiber from raw materials like wood and plastic. The second phase is the manufacturing process of making aluminum alloys, which are combinations of carbon fiber and aluminum.
The Bayer process is the aluminum mining and extraction process. The Hall-heroult process is a chemical process to form aluminum compounds.
Since aluminum is abundantly found in nature and making it is easier to produce than carbon fiber, it is cheaper and more efficient.
Complications of using Carbon fiber
- Carbon fiber is not as strong as aluminum
- Carbon fiber can be more difficult to produce than aluminum
- Carbon fiber requires more human resources to produce
The main point of this article is that carbon fiber can be more expensive than aluminum in larger structures, and it is more rigid than aluminum. Additionally, carbon fiber cannot withstand heat as well as aluminum, so it should be preferred where this application is necessary.
When to not use aluminum?
While aluminum might be the more accessible alternative, it can’t always outperform carbon fiber in some areas. ..
Aluminum is heavier and less strong than carbon fiber. This is why carbon fiber is used in the automotive and aviation industries, while aluminum is more commonly used in products like cans and pipes. Carbon fiber is stronger and more rigid than aluminum, making it safer to use and less likely to heat up or conduct electricity. Additionally, carbon fiber has many variants that make it more versatile than aluminum. ..
Scientific comparison
Carbon fiber is a strong, lightweight fiber that can be molded and captured finer details of the casting object. It is also tough and lightweight. Aluminum is heavier and molding it may leave wielding marks. However, carbon fiber is slowly being replaced as the industry grows as it has many benefits over aluminum, including:
- Stronger and lighter
- Easier to mold and capture details
- More durable than aluminum
Repair and recovery analysis
Aluminum is more expensive to produce than carbon fiber, but it is easier to recycle. Once carbon fiber is made, it can’t be recycled into something else. Furthermore, aluminum will eventually run out, no matter how abundant it is in nature. Carbon fiber, on the other hand, can always be made from carbon. ..
The carbon fiber industry is growing and it is being used in consoles, air crafts, three-dimensional apparatuses, 3d printers, and constructions. It might very well replace aluminum to some degree. Aluminum will always have applications though and with technology at its all-time peak, we never know what new ways to use both materials may reveal themselves.
Conclusion
The article discusses the pros and cons of carbon fiber and aluminum, with a focus on the potential growth of the carbon fiber industry. It is clear that more work needs to be done in order to make carbon fiber as good as aluminum, but there are potential benefits to this technology that could be worth considering.
