Carbon Fiber Explained: What It Is, How It Works, And Why It’s So Expensive – SlashGear

The future of carbon fiber and similar materials seems even brighter. In February 2022, the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced that it had developed an incredible new material. Phys.org reports, Engineering physics assistant professor Ramathasan Thevamaran said, “Our nanofiber mats exhibit protective properties that far surpass other material systems at much lighter weight.” The material, a blend of Kevlar and carbon nanotubes, hints at just where the technology may be going, but it’s important to note the limitations of carbon fiber.

NASA scientists have recently been working on a similar material that blends carbon fiber’s strength with metal-based constructions’ ability to distribute heat across its surface. In this regard, the former is rather more delicate, and so this is a weakness that must be taken into account. In practical terms, too, the price of carbon fiber is a concern to take on board.

Carbon fiber remains, at present, a rather specialized and pricey material. It’s of paramount importance, then, that its unique strengths are used in industries that can’t afford to skimp on safety matters (space travel and the military for instance). Cost-effectiveness is always a factor to consider where carbon fiber is concerned, though.