CARBON FIBER AS A RECENT MATERIAL USED IN CONSTRUCTION

Piyush Sharma1 , Vishnu Shankar2 , Naveen kumar3

Mukul Mudgal4, Ujjwal Gandhi 5, Rajat kapoor6
Department of Civil Engineering, Dronacharya College of Engineering
Khentawas, Farrukhnagar, Gurgaon (Haryana)
Email: [email protected]

Abstract
Over the past few decades, our research and technical skills has increased a lot. Even
today we are innovating and developing the new trends in technology in pursuit of a
safe and sustained future as the innovation leads to invention. Throughout this
evolution, engineers are in constant research for new and better building materials
and carbon fiber is one of these materials, which is used with some other fibers and a
specific polymer to form a high performance composite mixture. The aim of this
research paper is to study the benefits of using carbon fiberin different types of
industry &this paper also overcomes the drawbacks of using other building materials.
The amazing properties of carbon fiber such as high tensile strength, high stiffness,
low weight & high resistance to chemical and temperature makes it one of the most
popular materials in construction industry due to these properties it has enormous
applications in military, medical science, construction, automobile, aircraft industry etc.
It actually works as a robust building material. It produces the structure that possesses
both flexibility and durability. It is incredibly strong thats why it can also withstand
earthquakes. It is more flexible in wind than the regular structures. It is also listed in
the top 20 engineering achievements of 20 th century. It is definitely the next generation
building material as it can replace steel in the many structures and can reduce its
construction and maintenance cost.

Keywords: carbon fiber, building material, steel, polymer, tensile strength, stiffness.

INTRODUCTION:
HISTORY
In the 18th century, Thomas Edison carbonized cotton and bamboo to make filaments
for his early incandescent light bulbs.
In the late 1950s-ryan made high tensile carbon fiber and in early 1960s first and
commercial and practical use of carbon fiber is made in aircraft which makes them
lighter and faster due to the light weight and high stiffness of carbon fiber. During
1970s experimental work to find alternative raw mate rials led to the introduction of
carbon fibers made from petroleum pitch derived from oil processing. Unfortunately
they have only limited compression strength and were not widely accepted.
The 20th century saw a tremendous increase in the demand for carbon fiber. Threats
to peace increased the demand for carbon fiber for defense purposes, mid-century.
By the beginning of 21st century, new applications and new market sent the production
of carbon fibers on an upswing.
Despite a global downturn in 2008-2009, worldwide demand for carbon fiber increased
up to 45,000 metric tons in 2010. According to the global market forecasts, the annual
growth rate of carbon fiber is expected to be around 17% by 2017.

WHAT IS CARBON FIBER?

METHODOLOGY
Carbon fiber is a composite mixture of fiber such as aramid, aluminum or glass fibers
bound together by a polymer which is most often epoxy or may be polyester, nylon
etc.
The raw material used to make carbon fiber is the precursor. About 90% of the carbon
fibers produced are made from polyacrylonitrile (pan). The remaining 10% are made
from rayon. All these materials are organic polymers having long strings bound
together by carbon atoms. During the manufacturing of carbon fiber variety of liquids
and gases are used and the process is part mechanical and part chemical. Each fiber
is 5-10 microns in diameter. Carbon fibers are 2 times stiffer than steel and has high
tensile strength. In fact the carbon fiber might be the strongest material.
Carbon fiber is mostly used where the combination of high strength and light weight is
required.5 steps of production of carbon fiber are shown in the figure.

Carbon fiber

PROPERTIES OF CARBON FIBER:1) CARBON FIBER HAS HIGH SPECIFIC STRENGTH:

Strength of a material is the ratio of force per unit area at the failure to the density. Any
material which is strong and light such as aluminum, titanium, carbon, glass etc. has
always high specific strength. The strength to weight ratio of carbon fiber is much
more than that of steel, aluminum, or glass fiber. Table showing the specific strength
of various materials. The units are in KN.m/Kg
Spectra fiber

3619

Kevlar

2514

Carbon Fiber
Glass Fiber

2457
1307

Spider Silk

1069

Carbon Epoxy Composite

785

Balsa axial load

521

Steel alloy

254

Aluminum alloy

222

Polypropylene
Oak

89
87

Nylon

69

2) CARBON FIBER IS ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE:

This property of carbon fiber is both useful and bit harmful too. In construction of
ships, this property comes into play. Carbon fibers conductivity can increase the
galvanic corrosion in electrical fittings but proper and careful installation can reduce
this problem. Carbon fiber dust is also harmful, which can cause short circuit in
electrical appliances.

3) FATIGUE RESISTANCE IS GOOD:

Carbon fiber has a good resistance to fatigue. Carbon fibers when placed
perpendicular to the direction of applied stress produced the most favorable condition
of increased resistance to bending and to flexural fatigue. Resistance to fatigue greatly
depends upon the orientation of fibers. Damage in tensile fatigue will lead to the
reduction in stiffness with large no. of stress cycles

4) CARBON FIBER HAS HIGH TENSILE STRENGTH:

Tensile strength is the maximum stress that a material can withstand safely while
being stretched before failing. Carbon fiber does not losses its shape and dimensions
on stretching. It is highly flexible and after stretching it regains its shape almost
completely.

5) FIRE RESISTANCE:
Fire resistance of carbon fiber is excellent. Depending upon the type of process and
the type of precursor used, carbon fiber can be made into protective clothing for
fighting fire. Carbon fiber blanket is also used in welding.

6) LOW COFFECIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION:

This is a measure of how much a material expands or contracts under the application
of temperature when it goes up and down. As compared to steel, aluminum or glass,
ithas comparatively low thermal expansion, which makes it ideal for applications
where small movement can be critical.Table showing the thermal expansion of various
materials. The units are in inch.
Steel

Aluminum

13

Kevlar

3 or lower

Carbon Fiber woven

2 or less

Carbon fiber unidirectional

minus 1 to +8

Fiberglass

7-8

7) HIGH CORROSION RESISITANT:

Carbon fiber is chemically inert and stable. It does not corrode easily by the
environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, moisture etc. although epoxy
polymer used in carbon fiber is sensitive to light and needs protection.

8) CARBON FIBER IS VERY RIGID:

Rigidity or stiffness of any material is measured by its young modulus; it measures
how much a material deflects under stress. Reinforced carbon fiber plastic is 4 times
stiffer than glass and around 20 times stiffer than pine.

APPLICATIONS OF CARBON FIBER:1) CIVIL ENGINEERING:

Carbon fiber is used in several structural engineering applications due to its
construction benefits and optimum cost. The applications include strengthening of
structures made with concrete, steel, timber, cast iron etc. it can also replace steel due
to its high tensile strength and light weight. It is also used to increase the shear
strength of old structures like bridges.

2) INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS:

Carbon fiber reduces the motor and actuator loads and increases the response time.
In the business of automation, where machines often run as fast as 24x7, carbon fiber
reduces the inertial loads by replacing heavy metal components, which further
reduces part fabrication time and which in turn increases the profit. In developed
countries carbon fiber is used in making cars roof, alloys and other accessories

3) AIRCRAFTS AND SPACECRAFTS:

It is widely used in aircrafts and spacecraft components where its streng th to weight
ratio exceeds much more than that of any other material. It is applied in helicopters,
gliders, flying jets where high strength and low weight is required. Carbon fiber
increases the durability and lowers the maintenance cost.

4) SPORTS GOODS:It has wide applications in sports goods and equipments such as stiffening of shoes,
hockey sticks, tennis racquets, golf balls etc. it is also to make helmets which act as a
protector while playing games. It has high damage tolerance which can be very useful
to save lives

5) MILITARY:Military has various types of rough and tough equipments which are very hard and
durable and act as a safeguard. Most of them are made from very strong materials like
carbon fiber, examples- planes, tanks, missiles, helmets, soldiers personnel gear,
machine guns, protective shield etc.

6) HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS:The applications of carbon fiber in home are far beyond our imagination starting from
style, comfort, luxury or practical use. Carbon fiber is used in in bathtubs, coffee table,
phone cases, pen stands, bow ties, chairs etc. The look of black carbon fiber is very
attractive.

7) MEDICAL APPLICATIONS:Carbon fiber offers several applications to medical field. The most important is
artificial limbs. It is also used in x-rays and appears black on x-ray images. It is
also used to strengthen damaged ligaments in the knee. Carbon fiber is used for
welfare equipment such as wheel chairs, care beds and portable slopes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Carbon fiber plates are very thin, strong, flexible and durable. They can be
installed to provide the optimum cost solution and to give a sustainable future
design.
It has high tensile strength, high stiffness, low thermal expansion, high
resistance to fire and corrosion than any other material like stainless steel,
glass or aluminum thus making it one of the most important composite
materials in industry.
The golden factor of carbon fiber is that it possesses strength up to 5 times
than that of steel and weight one third to that of steel.
It has enormous applications in civil engineering, medical field, sports, military,
automobile and music industry.
The history of carbon fiber in India is nearly of two decades. Though the
technology has been developed mai nly in defense and aerospace, its foray into
other industrial sectors is only a matter of time. In India there is a complicated
situation between either to reduce the production cost of carbon fiber or
increase its fiber properties. But challenges like cost reduction, tensile and
compressive strength improvement and alternative precursor development still
remain.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:I would like to thank prof. Meeta Verma, prof. Anil Kumar Chottu, prof. Sakshi Gupta,
Dr. D.K Singh, Vishnu Shankar for the valuable discussions on carbon fiber and its
properties.

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