Fibers, from Light Bulbs to Outer Space

CARBON FIBERS, FROM LIGHT BULBS TO OUTER SPACE 

Union Carbide Corporation, Parma Technical Center P. 0, Box 6116, Cleveland, OH 

The basic element of carbon fibers is a long, thin filament composed mainly of carbon. The internal structure consists of undulating graphitic layers stacked in parallel arrangement hence, graphite fiber is often used in place of carbon fiber but the latter term is preferred. 

Commercial forms of carbon fibers include continuous filament yams or tows, woven fabrics, discontinuous filament mats and felts, and (rarely) single filaments. 

Carbon fibers are manufactured by pyrolysis and thermal treatment of organic precursor fibers, viz., rayon, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), or pitch. In pilot plant quantities, carbon fibers have been grown by chemical vapor deposition from an organic vapor such as methane or benzene in the laboratory, they have also been grown by physical vapor deposition. 

---