Industrial, Marine and Recreational Applications of Carbon Fibres and Their Composites

Abstract

These applications are generally considered together for non-technical reasons. First, in selling the material as well as in making market assessments, one must address a diversity of manufacturers, instead of dealing with the relatively few high-technology aerospace and automotive companies, which are in the forefront of materials’ R&D. Secondly, the applications in the title sectors are generally much less weight-critical and much more cost sensitive. As a matter of fact, non-aerospace applications did not exist until the price of carbon fiber (CF) dropped below $ 100/Kg in the early seventies. The current U.S.A. prices of the structural CF tow or yarn range from 40–66 $/Kg, depending on the size of the tow and the performance requirements. Thus, the CF is very expensive relative to Fiberglass reinforcement, less so relative to the aramid fibers (e. g. Kevlar), and inexpensive with respect to metal or ceramic fibers, such as boron or silicon carbide, which cost about 400–500 $/Kg.