Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP or CRP) is a Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP or CRP) is a light-weight, high strength, composite material. light-weight, high strength, composite material.

Depending on the task, carbon fiber reinforced Depending on the task, carbon fiber reinforced plastic is made with different kind of plastics and plastic is made with different kind of plastics and fibers.fibers.

A number of factors depend for the process of A number of factors depend for the process of CFRP, molds are usually made from aluminum or CFRP, molds are usually made from aluminum or fiberglass. For low volume parts, it can be made fiberglass. For low volume parts, it can be made by putting carbon fiber fabric and resin into a by putting carbon fiber fabric and resin into a mold and allowing to harden in a vacuum. To mold and allowing to harden in a vacuum. To create larger volume parts, compression molding create larger volume parts, compression molding is used.is used.

Plastics and Fibers Used Epoxy (Most commonly used)Epoxy (Most commonly used) PolyesterPolyester

Such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)Such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) VynilesterVynilester NylonNylon KevlarKevlar AluminumAluminum

MEEN 4385 / 5303 (Advanced) Fabrication of Composite Structures

Typical Properties High StrengthHigh

ModulusUltra-High Modulus

Density (g/cm3) 1.8 1.9 2.0 - 2.1

Young's Modulus (GPa) 230 370 520 - 620

Tensile Strength (GPa) 2.48 1.79 1.03 - 1.31

Tensile Elongation (%) 1.1 0.5 0.2

Table for carbon fibersTable for carbon fibers

In cars, CFRP is used In cars, CFRP is used in doors, hoods, in doors, hoods, fenders, chasis, and fenders, chasis, and support frames for the support frames for the engine and engine and transmission.transmission.

In airplanes, CFRP is In airplanes, CFRP is used in fuselage used in fuselage sections called barrels.sections called barrels.

Other applications, Other applications, racing bicycles, racing bicycles, rackets, fishing rods, rackets, fishing rods,

Tail of an RC Tail of an RC helicopter, helicopter, made of CFRPmade of CFRP

Fuselage mold section of the Boeing 787 Fuselage mold section of the Boeing 787 DreamlinerDreamliner

Reduces weight.Reduces weight. Improves fuel efficiency.Improves fuel efficiency. Easier to mold and work.Easier to mold and work. Reduces drag.Reduces drag. Reduces pollution.Reduces pollution. Lesser material used.Lesser material used. Longer lifetime.Longer lifetime. Less maintenance. Less maintenance.

A car’s pollution

http://www.aip.org/dbis/stories/2006/15132.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0211-

cars_of_the_future_plastic_makes_perfect.htm http://www.conceptsalesinc.com/carbon-fiber-

reinforced-plastic.htm http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/BRIDGE/frp/frp197.cfm Peel, Dr. Larry., MEEN 4385 / 5303

(Advanced) Fabrication of Composite Structures. http://www.engineer.tamuk.edu/departments/ieen/faculty/DrLPeel/Courses/composites_fab_class.html. Spring 2008.