Grafitkolfiber

Grafitkolfiber, often referred to as carbon fiber, is a material composed of extremely thin fibers with a diameter of about 5-10 micrometers. These fibers are primarily made of carbon atoms arranged in a crystalline structure that is significantly stronger than steel for its weight. The strength of grafitkolfiber comes from the strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms, forming long, tightly packed chains.

The production of grafitkolfiber involves a complex process called pyrolysis. This typically starts with a precursor material, often polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or pitch, which is heated in an oxygen-free environment to very high temperatures. During this process, non-carbon atoms are driven off, leaving behind a carbon structure. The resulting fibers are then treated to improve their adhesion to resins, as they are often used in composite materials.

Grafitkolfiber is highly valued for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. These properties make it an ideal material for applications where both performance and weight reduction are critical. It is commonly used in the aerospace industry for aircraft components, in the automotive sector for car bodies and structural parts, and in sporting goods such as bicycle frames, tennis rackets, and golf clubs. It also finds use in advanced engineering applications and sometimes in medical devices.