|
| Author |
Message |
runninwildnfree
Rookie
Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 24
Location: Columbia |
|
 What the heck is this pretty stuff?? |
 |
IT'S CARBON FIBER!! Basically, I have found that alot of car people simply dont know much about this stuff, so I've explained it here in extreme detail...what it is and how it is made!
1)Ok then, What is this stuff?
Well, there are two parts to the CF you will see on cars. Because actually its used in space craft, airplanes, and boats too. The processes differ so we focus only on the racing type.
So, racing Carbon Fiber is actually developed directly from PAN (Polyacrylonitrile fibers), PAN is a combination of Acrylic Fibers, ABS (Plastic Resin), NBR (Synthetic Rubber) and Acrylamide materials. In a chemical combination process known as SOHIO, the materials form one material (The Carbon/Black). During several more processes the compound finds its way to a rolling oven machine (it looks like a paper mill machine) which forces it through rollers that spread it into a thin but super heated sheet and as it rolls and is pressed and cooled the material oxidizes and turns from white to amber and then to black. This is the Black of the strands you see in the weave or the "Carbon". The other material is either Kevlar, in the case of cars (the Gray) or Glass, (Clear obviously) usually for planes. When they are woven together, they make the familiar Gray/Silver/Clear and Black checkered pattern!
2)Why do people say its better than steel?
I'll show you, with a Scientific Comparison to Steel:
Tensile Strength (GPa)
CF (Standard Grade) 3.5 (More than double the material strength)
High Tensile Steel 1.3
Tensile Modulus (GPa)
CF (Standard Grade) 230.0
High Tensile Steel 210.0
Density (g/ccm)
CF (Standard Grade) 1.75 (Why its so lightweight!)
High Tensile Steel 7.87
Specific Strength (GPa)
CF (Standard Grade) 2.00 (Overall compound is amazingly stronger)
High Tensile Steel 0.17
3)Whats all this about Grades?
Carbon Fiber is not just for racing, it is used in MANY manufactoring genres, and so, different levels of quality or "Grades" must be present so manufactorers can choose the level they need for each type project. In the following list I give the grade name and its strength/elacitity, or Strength (S) / Modulus (M)
The levels are known in industry as:
Name S/M
High Tenacity 4.0/240
Ultra High Tenacity 4.8/240
Intermediate Modulus 6.0/290
High Modulus 3.5/375
Ultra High Modulus 3.4/425
High Modulus/High Tenacity 3.9/400
Now, thats a little too complicated so the Grades you see are not all used for racing. It depends which manufacturer you buy from as to the individual type they use and make, so those in the racing market use instead the Grade level: C, B, A and AA
C is average CF and might fade or warp, its the cheaper stuff you get from aftermarket, no name companies its got ok quality. B is decent stuff, your average run of the mill CF for various auto applications. A is better obviously, with little to no fading. AA is the best. (And damn expensive too.)
4)Whats the difference in Wet and Dry?
Right, well after the two materials, Carbon and Kevlar, are woven together they are now Carbon Fiber...but it doesnt end here! Now comes the two variations in the racing market: Wet and Dry
Let me explain:
Wet Carbon Fiber comes in the sheets of woven material, which is then placed on top of the item desired to be CF (Normally a mold of plastic or other lightweight material) then the Epoxy Gel is poured or sprayed over the top, this gives wet CF that distinctive super glossed "Wet" look, the reason its lower in quality is because the final product weighs more and is not as strong as Dry style CF.
Dry Carbon Fiber is the same woven material but the Epoxy Gel is already laid into the Carbon / Kevlar sheets. Because of this, it has to be stored in the refridgerator (yup!) so it wont dry out. Dry CF is stronger and lighter than Wet style.
5)Wrapping?
Right, so if you didnt know, the CF is not a stand alone product, its simply "Armor" for the item underneathe, that you wont ever see. This item is usually a mold from a car manufacturer that is plastic, fiberglass or other very lightweight material core. Sometimes custom molds are made too.
After the item to be wrapped is present, the CF strips are cut and laid onto and even into the mold or item to be CF. After the strips are laid, either wet or dry style, the item is cooked in a large (As in 20 feet tall) Autoclave, which is a steam cooking oven. After the item comes out, its ready to be used/sold.
So thats it really, I tried to cover it in detail so you will know all about it next time someone mentions it around you. I was happy to write it and hope maybe some people learned something new!
_________________
Whoa there little buddy, slow that sucker down!!
Last edited by runninwildnfree on Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:12 am |
   |
 |
squadbuddy
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 73
Location: Columbia Tn |
|
| |
|
Good job Sharlene! You really did a lot of research, and it paid off... GREAT POST!
_________________
2JZ > * |
|
| Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:14 am |
 |
|
tenntouge
Deer Hunter
Joined: 16 Jul 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Columbia, TN |
|
| |
|
Nice Post Girl
_________________
Damn you, Mario!!!
 |
|
| Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:07 am |
 |
|
runninwildnfree
Rookie
Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 24
Location: Columbia |
|
| |
|
lol I didn't research anything, I copied and pasted that from another forum, but I thought it would be cool to have the info for us, I just edited it a lil because I was rushed to post it last night...anywho I thought it was informative none-the-less
_________________
Whoa there little buddy, slow that sucker down!! |
|
| Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:55 am |
|
|
tenntouge
Deer Hunter
Joined: 16 Jul 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Columbia, TN |
|
| |
|
uummm ya....definitely lie next time and say "thanks I spent like a night working on it" that cool though
_________________
Damn you, Mario!!!
|
|
| Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:58 am |
|
|
runninwildnfree
Rookie
Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 24
Location: Columbia |
|
| |
|
I don't like to lie and plus whoever wrote this did ok but I think I would have made it a little more readable if I wrote it
_________________
Whoa there little buddy, slow that sucker down!! |
|
| Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:00 am |
|
|
mike1jag
They call him... "The Boss"
Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 126
Location: columbia,TN |
|
| |
|
i want to see someone make it. that would rock
_________________
Want to race? I need someone to tell me if my tail lights are working!
Oh thats your real face? sorry |
|
| Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 am |
|
|
Free Forum
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
