Abstract

Carbon fibers have been studied extensively since the 1960s due to their high strength (3–7 GPa), high modulus (200–500 GPa), compressive strength (1–3 GPa), shear modulus (10–15 GPa), and low density (1.75–2.00 g/cm³). Carbon fibers are derived from several precursors, including isotropic pitch, mesophase pitch, and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) being the predominant precursor used today. Carbon fibers made from pitch can have modulus, thermal, and electrical conductivities as high as 900 GPa, 1000 W/mK, and 10⁶ S/m, respectively. The properties of carbon fibers make them useful for reinforcements in composite applications. Carbon fibers have become a dominant material in the aerospace industry, and their usage in automotive, sporting good, and other industries continue to grow as their cost continues to come down.