Carbon fiber composites are structural materials formed by combining polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based fibers-which possess a carbon content exceeding 90%-with a matrix material, such as resin. These composites are characterized by high strength, corrosion resistance, and low density, while simultaneously retaining the flexibility and processability inherent to textile fibers. Their tensile strength can reach 7 to 9 times that of steel, with a specific strength exceeding 2000 MPa/(g/cm³), and a density approximately one-fifth that of steel. This material facilitates weight reduction in structural components and enhances fatigue resistance, finding extensive application across fields such as aerospace, rail transit, automotive manufacturing, and sports equipment.
Fabrication processes for this material include PCM, RTM, and SMC molding; notably, the RTM process enables the integrated, one-piece molding of complex components through closed-mold injection. In the rail transit sector, this material contributes to reducing vehicle body weight; international case studies indicate that in the design of flexible bogie frames, the weight of core components can be reduced to just 60% of that required for metal counterparts. In the aerospace sector, the entire structure of the *Kuaizhou-11* solid-fuel launch vehicle is constructed from carbon fiber composites; similarly, a launch vehicle currently slated for its maiden flight features a fairing constructed entirely from carbon fiber composites. Furthermore, the material is utilized in satellite reflectors, battery enclosures for new energy vehicles, and structural reinforcement projects in the construction industry.
In architectural applications, cable-spoke tension structures utilizing all-carbon-fiber cables offer superior breaking strength compared to steel-cable alternatives, enabling significant weight reduction in practical implementations. Certain trains have already incorporated material technologies such as carbon fiber composites. In the consumer electronics sector, specific products feature airframe bodies crafted from aerospace-grade carbon fiber composites.
The material also finds application in ship structures and load-bearing components for humanoid robots. Notably, CF/PEEK composites exhibit a fatigue strength of 120 MPa-significantly higher than the 50 MPa typically found in aluminum alloys. Within the aerospace manufacturing sector, carbon fiber composites are employed in the fuselages and wing components of general aviation aircraft, as well as in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, where their superior strength and weight-saving benefits are particularly pronounced. The tether cables used in airborne wind power generation systems are fabricated from carbon fiber composites, boasting a tensile strength of up to 3000 MPa. Finally, this material has been included in a comprehensive report cataloging future industries and emerging materials.
