Page 45 - Template Tesis UTM v2.0

2.5.2 Carbon Fibre

The use of carbon fibre in a variety of applications is growing, including

aerospace, sporting goods, commercial and industrial application. The Boeing 787 has

taken advantages on composite materials where the airframe and primary structure of
the aircrafts comprise of nearly half carbon fibre reinforced plastic and other

composites [18]. The use of these composites allows Boeing to reduce the weight of

the 787 by 20 per cent compared to the use of the conventional aluminium designs. In
this regard, the composite materials have the capability of outperforming aluminium

in highly tension-loaded environment especially on the design of fuselage. Hence, the
use of composites can reduce more fatigue maintenance greatly compared to

aluminium structure [8]. Composites made from carbon fibre are also five times
stronger and lighter than grade 1020 steel, which made them ideal for structural parts

[16]. Moreover, carbon composites are lightweight and have high stiffness, hence,

carbon fibres as the main material for the latest design of golf club shafts and other
sporting goods. Carbon fibres are also used as the main materials for fishing rods,

tennis and squash rackets, skis, surfboards and bicycles. In Japan, carbon fibre is also
used for retrofitting columns and walls of seismic bridge. The high stiffness property

of carbon fibre helps in minimising the movement of the bridge structure and inertness
to corrosion ensures for long term protection.

Carbon fibres are usually made by oxidising, carbonising and then graphitising

carbon rich fibre form precursors, in three separate but continuous operations. The
most common precursor is polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and pitch fibres and Figure 2.4

shows the process flow of making carbon fibres from PAN and pitch precursors. Once
formed, the carbon fibre has a surface treatment applied to improve matrix bonding

and chemical sizing which serves to protect it during handling. Table 2.3 shows the

general properties of high-strength and high-modulus of carbon fibres [32]

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