What is the difference between carbon and carbon fiber
Different uses, main features, and classifications. 1. Different uses. The main use of carbon fiber is to composite with resins, metals, ceramics, and carbon as a reinforcing material to manufacture advanced composite materials. Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites have high specific strength and specific modulus among existing engineering materials. Carbon is mainly used as a conductive anode for ultra high power steelmaking electric arc furnaces, electrolytic equipment in the electrochemical industry, and in aerospace, electronics, and nuclear industries.
The differences between carbon and carbon fiber include different uses, main characteristics, and classifications.
1. Different uses. The main use of carbon fiber is to composite with resins, metals, ceramics, and carbon as a reinforcing material to manufacture advanced composite materials. Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composites have high specific strength and specific modulus among existing engineering materials. Carbon is mainly used as a conductive anode for ultra high power steelmaking electric arc furnaces, electrolytic equipment in the electrochemical industry, and in aerospace, electronics, and nuclear industries.
2. The main characteristics are different. Carbon fibers have characteristics such as high temperature resistance, friction resistance, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Their appearance is fibrous, soft, and can be processed into various fabrics. Due to the preferred orientation of their graphite microcrystalline structure along the fiber axis, they have high strength and modulus along the fiber axis. Carbon fibers have a low density and therefore a high specific strength and specific modulus. Carbon has light weight, porosity, conductivity, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, lubricity, high temperature strength, heat resistance, thermal shock resistance, low thermal expansion, low elasticity, high purity, and processability.
3. Classification is different. The main products of carbon fibers include three categories: polyacrylonitrile based, asphalt based, and viscose based. Each category of products is divided into many varieties due to different types of raw fibers, processes, and final carbon fiber properties. Carbon products can be divided into graphite electrode, carbon block, graphite anode, carbon electrode, paste, electric carbon, carbon fiber, special graphite, graphite heat exchanger, etc. according to product usage. Graphite electrodes can be divided into ordinary power graphite electrodes based on the allowable current density.
