Simulations Reveal Secrets to Strengthening Carbon Fiber
ORNL researchers have found a way to double the tensile strength of carbon-fiber composites by reinforcing the material with a thin layer of PAN nanofibers. A human hair is approximately 100 times wider than one of these fibers.
Stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, carbon fiber is a staple in aerospace and high-performance vehicles. Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a way to make it even stronger.