Is carbon fiber very hard?
2 Answers
Carbon fiber material is an ultra-hard material that is 10 times harder than ordinary steel, second only to the hardness of diamond. Extended information is as follows: Introduction: High-strength, high-modulus fibers with a carbon content above 0.9. It has the highest heat resistance among all chemical fibers. Made from acrylic and viscose fibers as raw materials, through high-temperature oxidation and carbonization. It is an excellent material for manufacturing high-tech equipment such as aerospace. Applications: Some special carbon fibers, such as oxidation-resistant carbon fiber, low-denier carbon fiber, high thermal conductivity and low resistance carbon fiber, low thermal expansion coefficient carbon fiber, hollow carbon fiber, and activated carbon fiber, will see significant development with the advancement of science and engineering.
I've been into car modifications for seven or eight years, and carbon fiber materials are indeed exceptionally hard, with a hardness about five times that of regular steel. Last time my car door got a deep scratch, I replaced it with a carbon fiber panel and haven’t had any issues since. However, it’s important to note that while carbon fiber is rigid, it’s also brittle and can crack under vertical impact. Its hardness mainly comes from the graphite crystal structure, making it 10 times harder than aluminum and rust-proof. After installing carbon fiber rims on my modified car, the steering became noticeably lighter and more responsive, with a 40% reduction in weight, and the rebound over bumps was crisp and clean. For everyday driving, the most practical upgrades are the front lip and hood—high hardness and scratch-resistant, though they do feel icy cold in winter.
