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handbook of carbon, graphite, diamond and fullerenes

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Applications <strong>of</strong> Carbon Fibers 201<br />

or more types <strong>of</strong> <strong>carbon</strong> fiber. For instance, a high-strength type might be<br />

selected to bear loads in one direction while a high-modulus type may be<br />

placed for high stiffness in another direction.<br />

An ample selection <strong>of</strong> <strong>carbon</strong>-fiber architecture is now available as a<br />

result <strong>of</strong> recent advances in sizing <strong>and</strong> weaving technology. However, a<br />

<strong>carbon</strong> fiber is inherently brittle <strong>and</strong> cannot be bent over a small radius<br />

without breaking. Consequently, the use <strong>of</strong> complicated weaving procedures<br />

such as knitting <strong>and</strong> braiding is limited.<br />

Carbon-fiber architecture can be divided into four categories: discrete,<br />

linear (continuous), laminar (two-dimensional weave), <strong>and</strong> integrated (threedimensional<br />

weave). The characteristics <strong>of</strong> each category are shown in<br />

Table9.1.M<br />

Table 9.1. Carbon-Fiber Architecture<br />

Type <strong>of</strong><br />

Reinforcement<br />

Discrete<br />

Linear<br />

Laminar<br />

Integrated<br />

2.2 Yarn <strong>and</strong> Roving<br />

Textile<br />

Construction<br />

Chopped fibers<br />

Filament yarn<br />

Simple fabric<br />

Advanced fabric<br />

Fiber<br />

Length<br />

Short<br />

Continuous<br />

Continuous<br />

Continuous<br />

Fiber<br />

Orientation<br />

R<strong>and</strong>om<br />

Linear<br />

Planar<br />

3D<br />

Fiber<br />

Weave<br />

None<br />

None<br />

2D<br />

3D<br />

A <strong>carbon</strong>-fiber yarn is an assembly <strong>of</strong> mon<strong>of</strong>ilaments held together by<br />

a twist. Yarns are usually composed <strong>of</strong> continuous filaments or, in some<br />

cases, <strong>of</strong> discrete filaments (stapie yarns). Woven fabrics are usually<br />

processed from yarns comprising several thous<strong>and</strong> mon<strong>of</strong>ilaments.<br />

A <strong>carbon</strong> fiber roving is a continuous fiber bundle with essentially no<br />

twist, usually containing more mon<strong>of</strong>ilaments than a yarn.<br />

2.3 Discrete Fibers<br />

Discrete fibers (also known as chopped fibers) are short-length fibers<br />

(a few centimeters) which are generally r<strong>and</strong>omly oriented. They are

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