Carbon Fibers Invented by Thomas Edison

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Introduction:

Carbon fibers were invented in the late 1800’s by Thomas Edison for use as filaments in the first lightbulbs. They were originally composed of cellulose based materials like cotton, which underwent pyrolysis: the process of being carbonised by baking at high temperatures. These early carbon fibres were used predominantly for their resistance to changes in temperature and also their ability to conduct, however lacked the high tensile strength of modern fibres. Nowadays these are created from petroleum based substances. Scientific developments allowed the discovery of high strength carbon fibres in the 1950’s and these first entered the market as a low density alternative to steel4.

Major aerospace engineering bodies such as NASA soon realised the importance of this technology and scientists began to develop carbon fibre composites for use in aircraft and spacecraft. Currently, carbon fibre composites are some of the most widely used materials in the aerospace and aviation industry as one of strongest materials available, being five times the strength of steel. It is also a third of the weight of steel and therefore incredibly lightweight. A composite is defined as a material consisting of two or more individual constituents. These composites are made from carbon fibre fabric (the fibres woven together) which is permeated with epoxy resin at temperatures of around 125 degrees. The product is a carbon fiber sheet. This can then be shaped into a pattern and finally bonded with a structural adhesive7. The use of CFC’s is most prominent in modern military aircraft, where most external components such as wings, doors and rear fuselage sections are partially made using them. The aim of using this material is to reduce weig...

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... John Wiley and Sons, page 882

7. Carbon Fiber Sheets, Available at: www.txmrecruit.co.uk/prodrive/what-are-composites/(Accessed 25/02/14)

8. Eurofighter, Available at: www.eurofighter.com/the-aircraft, (Accessed 25/02/14)

9. Eurofighter Speed, Available at: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/feature/18857/eurofighter-enters-active-service.html (Accessed 25/02/14)

10. Premium AEROTEC, Available at: http://www.premium-aerotec.com/en/Focus_on_CFC_technology_at_...html, (Accessed 25/02/14)

Figures

Carbon Fibre Fabric, Available at: http://altairenlighten.com/2012/06/thermosets/,
(Accessed 25/02/14)

Eurofighter Typhoon Shell, Available at: http://typhoon.starstreak.net/Eurofighter/structure.htm, (Accessed 25/02/14)

Eurofighter Typhoon, Available at: http://www.indiandefence.com/forums/u-s-europe/4731-eurofighter-typhoon-135.html, (Accessed 25/02/14)

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