Carbon is a sensational composite material, a representative of the group of carbon plastics. It is a vivid example of combining thousands of formulas. However, there is a related feature – the filler here is represented by graphite fibers and particles. Graphite is carbon. You must have seen graphite in a pencil lead at least. However, the threads are extremely thin. They are easy to break, but you have to work hard to tear them. Such threads are used to sew fabrics, and they are arranged parallel to each other.
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic has different anisotropy – its properties change depending on the control. So for the sake of a very strong surface, several layers of carbon fiber have to be laid, and each time the direction of the threads changes. Resins are used to bind the fibers. To fully enjoy the benefits of carbon it is necessary to use vacuum technology, to carry out heat treatment. Expensive specific equipment is also required – an autoclave, for example.
What are the advantages of carbon? First of all it is weight: it is 20 times lighter than aluminum and 40 times lighter than steel! Carbon fiber reinforced plastic is lighter than fiberglass and stronger than it. However, it is not the wonderful properties of carbon that became the object of love for the motorists, but the looks. Carbon fiber car covers became fashionable thanks to sports cars. But carbon is expensive, that is why today you can ubiquitously buy carbon film and wrap your car with it at least completely. The main thing is not to have problems with traffic police.
Carbon fiber in motorsport is designed for a very clear purpose: it gives the maximum strength with minimum weight. In addition to sports cars, carbon fiber is also used in the production of premium cars – still for weight reduction. For example, NMW produces its seven cars using the Carbon Core technology, which makes them “thin” by as much as 130 kilograms. And still today, carbon fiber is often used for purely tuning the appearance of cars.
The definition “for carbon” means the black-and-white “chessboard”. Nowadays there is a great variety of films with such pattern. They cost cheap, so there are no problems with their purchase. You can realize practically any ideas. The car owners can veneer hoods, mirrors, bumpers, plastic interior elements and whatever else they want. Carbon fiber films exist not only in black, but also in color. Almost yesterday it was offered to buy a 3D carbon film, and today customers are being offered a 4D carbon film at full speed.
Buying the carbon film 4D is a good decision, because here the checkerboard looks very much three-dimensional. The only alternative to this material can be aqua-printing.
Real carbon is lightweight and beautiful, but it has some serious drawbacks when viewed from the decorative side:
1. the relative elongation is too small. Carbon doesn’t actually stretch.
2. it is brittle and afraid of pitting, for which you could well call it vulnerable and delicate.
3 For carbon products to function as they should, you need to calculate a number of parameters. This is the thickness of the layer, the amount of resin, the direction of the angle
