These magical traits elevate carbon fiber into the realm of prized possession. Technological advancements enabled production to be quicker and more affordable; thus, with the production of carbon fiber made more efficient, so did the demand for the material increase.

Additionally, the flexibility of the carbon fiber allows the manufacturers to experiment and eventually produce pretty innovative concepts. An example of such is the BIC Sport Windfoil with 3MB’s carbon fiber concept.

Redefining the Structure of Sporting Goods Manufacturing

Since the introduction of carbon fiber, the creation of sporting goods has never been the same. In sports, weight and strength go hand in hand: you need equipment that can handle the daily wear and tear of sports, but on the other hand, you need the equipment to be lightweight for it to be used efficiently, and without unnecessary strain on the athlete or player.

Back then, sporting goods were symbols of compromise. Or the very definition of “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” It was virtually impossible for a piece of sporting equipment to be both lightweight and strong at the same time. Somewhere down the line, something has got to give.

Thus, athletes had to struggle with pieces of equipment that were either strong but too heavy or light but too fragile. They simply couldn’t get the best of both worlds—that is, until carbon fiber was discovered, created, and injected into the manufacturing scene.

5 Examples of Sporting Goods Made with the Material

With carbon fiber in the picture, the sporting goods arena has become a better, brighter place. Sports lovers are able to love their chosen fields some more because the carbon fiber–enriched equipment have made engaging in said sport such a joy.

What are some of the most common sporting equipment today that have been made with carbon fiber, you ask? Well, here are 5 examples of sporting goods the makeup of which were improved by carbon fiber.

1. Golf shafts

Nowadays, golf shafts come in 2 materials: steel and graphite, which is made up almost exclusively of carbon fiber.

These shafts, being way more lightweight than their steel counterparts, fit the golfer who desires a more powerful swing. Because carbon fiber is lightweight, the golfer can generate a faster swing, thereby adding power to his/her motions.

In addition, graphite golf shafts are ideal for those who prefer longer distances with their shots, aren’t strong enough to use steel shafts, and are content with their current set of golf clubs (read: those who have no plans to purchase new clubs in the future).

2. Rackets

Rackets rank second on the list of sporting equipments modified with carbon fiber. Though there are different kinds of racket sports (e.g., tennis, badminton, racquetball), studies reveal that tennis rackets are the most commonly purchased racket equipment, accounting for 81% of unit deliveries.

It makes sense, though, why rackets greatly benefit from carbon fiber. Players get more variety and spin in their motions, thanks to the much-lighter equipment. Also, the rackets are likely to last longer and stand more tough use, what with carbon fiber being one of the most durable materials around.

3. Snowboards

For the snowboard-loving individual, carbon fiber must be the best thing next to sliced bread. Adding the material into the basic snowboard makeup has drastically changed the adventure of snowboarding—for the better, of course.

Carbon fiber is loads lighter than traditional fiberglass; thus, it enables the snowboarder to make greater leaps and bounds over his/her terrain of choice. In addition, carbon fiber makes use of the energy created during snowboarding by producing more energy.

For snowboarders, this means increased durability and speed. They can then take on any terrain without scrimping on speed and feel. Every snowboarding experience is guaranteed high performance. Who wouldn’t want that?

4. Fishing rods

Fishing rods have the power to either make or break your fishing adventures. Bamboo rods were the pioneers in fishing equipment, and continue to do so today, until the fishing rods fashioned from carbon fiber were introduced.

Rods manufactured from carbon fiber provide weight and sensitivity, 2 crucial factors for when you’re fishing in deeper waters. Experts also recommend using such rods when you’re out for smaller game fish. This is because you get to feel more clearly the vibrations coming from the small, delicate bites.

Also, with a lighter (read: carbon fiber) fishing rod, you can generate a greater casting distance, vastly improving your fishing game.

5. Bicycles

Of course, no list of sporting equipment made with carbon fiber can be without bicycles on it. Thanks to improved manufacturing techniques, bike frames made with carbon fiber are becoming widespread.

 Bicycle enthusiasts love the lightweight feature carbon fiber brings into the machine’s composition. With lighter weight comes greater control; they can zip up and down any terrain they wish.

In addition, carbon fiber bicycles aren’t only lighter but also stronger, more durable as well. They absorb shock waves and vibrations better, making for a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Plus bikes made from carbon fiber are highly stable. Corrosion is an issue that’s next to nonexistent, and even if you use bike wash on your ride, you can count on the frame to not give up anytime soon.

With these long-standing features, you’re sure to enjoy your bicycle for a long, long time.

Polymer composites are materials that you will have come across in your day to day living, whether you have realised it was a polymer composite or not. There are so many benefits and uses for polymer composites, and once you know more about them you will realise that your life would not be as comfortable without them.

But first, we need to understand what a polymer composite is, so let’s break down those two words.

Polymer

A polymer is created by a chemical reaction that joins lots of the same type of molecule together to form one long molecule of a new substance.

For example, in the picture below we see individual ethene molecules. Through a chemical reaction the ethene molecules are joined together to create long molecules of polyethene.

Ethene molecules join together to make long molecules of poly(ethene)

Polymers often have similar traits such as:

• Chemically un-reactive: they don’t react to the materials around them so they are great for storing things such as water bottles.
• Solid at room temperature: like plastics or materials used for clothes.
• Strong and not easily broken.

Examples of polymers include:

• PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which is used to make water pipes and the outer layer of electrical wiring.
• Polyethene (as shown in the picture above) which is used to make plastic bags.
• Nylon and Lycra which are both used to make different types of clothes.

Composite

A composite is a very simple term and it literally means a material that is composed of two or more materials. For example concrete is a (very common) composite because it is made by combining materials such as cement, gravel and sand. The consistency and the qualities of the cement will depend on what ratios you combine the ingredients together in, and under what circumstances you make it. Composites are very useful and clever materials because they can combine the benefits of two (or more) materials to create a material that has the benefits of both and even loses some of the defects or cons. For example concrete is waterproof, whereas sand isn’t, and concrete can be molded, which gravel and concrete on their own can’t.

So now we know what the two individual words mean, we can begin to understand what a polymer composite might be.

So then, a polymer composite is a material that is composed using a polymer as one of the parts. The new polymer composite should have the benefits of the polymer as well as the chosen benefits of the material it is being combined with.

Uses

The modern composites we build with today are usually made of two components, a fiber and matrix. The most common fibers that are used are glass, carbon or polyethene. Most people will have heard of fiberglass as it is a common household name. The most expensive by far is carbon-fibre as it is so costly to produce and takes millions of dollars of money to even build the specialist machinery to produce it.

The other part, the matrix, is usually a thermoset like an epoxy-resin, or a polymide.

The fiber is embedded in the matrix in order to make the matrix stronger. Fiber-reinforced composites have two things going for them. They are strong and light. They’re often stronger than steel, but weigh much less. This means that composites can be used to make automobiles lighter, and thus much more fuel efficient. This means they pollute less, too.

Polymer composites have been manufactured since the very start of the 20th century when inventors began experimenting in order to produce plastics. The first every synthetic fabric was produced in 1905 and was called ‘bake light‘. While at the time the inventor, Leo Baekland, had been focused on creating synthetic plastic to make storage containers, much research was put in from other bigger industries such as the boating, contstruction and aircraft industries. It can be easy to see why they would want to further improve a plastic substance that was strong, light, and so much cheaper to produce than other composites. Economically it made sense to invest in the development of polymer composites.

Moving on from the first introduction of synthetic plastic over 100 years ago, there has been much development in the uses of polymer composites. In June 2013, KONE elevator company announced Ultrarope for use as a replacement for steel cables in elevators. It seals the carbon fibres in high-friction polymer. Unlike steel cable, Ultrarope was designed for buildings that require up to 1,000 meters of lift. Steel elevators top out at 500 meters. The company estimated that in a 500-meter-high building, an elevator would use 15 per cent less electrical power than a steel-cabled version. As of June 2013, the product had passed all European Union and US certification tests.

Other uses include the known brand ‘Kevlar’ which produces bullet-proof vests (pictured above) made of polymer composites. As you can see, not only do they help you to fly, or sail the ocean, or hold your lunch, polymer composites can even save your life.

Benefits

Fibre-reinforced plastics are perfect for any product or design plan that demands lighter materials, precision engineering, finite tolerances, and the simplification of parts in both production and operation. A moulded polymer artefact is cheaper, faster, and easier to manufacture than cast aluminium or steel artefact, and maintains similar and sometimes better tolerances and material strengths.

Other Modern Composites

While polymer composites are very common and used in our daily lives, there are other very common composites that are also used. Two of the most common are carbon-fibre composites and glass-fibre composites. Carbon-fibre composites, as the name suggests, are composites that use carbon-fibre to create materials that are stronger and lighter than normal metals. It is extremely expensive to manufacture carbon-fibre composites and originally they were only used in the aerospace industry. However thanks to the improvements in technology and manufacturing, the use of carbon-fibre, although still the most expensive composite, has now delved deep into other industries which really benefit from this lightweight and strong material. Carbon-fibre is now being used in the automotive industry to make super cars, in the construction industry to make houses and bridges that can stand even the most extreme weathers, and in the sporting industry such as bikes and equipment. Who wouldn’t want their snow bike to be faster and lighter than ever before?

One form of composite material used for building is particle wood. While this wood is not necessarily a stronger form of composite versus true wood itself, it can be used to make a variety if products. The products created by particle wood are made cheaply but take on the look and feel of real wood.

Now, that you have an idea of what composites are, let’s take a look at what other types of uses these useful materials can be applied to. Composites are used in a number of different types of structures and vehicles. From high rise apartment buildings, to race cars driven on the NASCAR circuit, composites have many uses. Yes, composites are used in so many different types of structures and vehicles that it would be impossible to list them all here!

So, with this thought in mind, what would you think another use could be? How about the Space Industry? It’s true, composites are used in the construction of spacecrafts designed to take humans from earth all the way to space. While the composites used for space exploration craft are similar to those used on race cars and other airborne vehicles, aspects of these composites must meet certain criteria before being accepted for use.

Composites used in spacecraft

We all know that pressurization is a factor when it comes to exploring deep space with a spacecraft. Because of this, spacecrafts must be built to withstand enormous odds.

In an effort to create a more effective and safer craft for space exploration, the NASA Engineering and Safety Center built a composite crew module. The purpose of this project was to study the feasibility of a module built of composite materials. The module which contains an upper pressure shell, splice joint and lower pressure shell was created to certain specification and a complete evaluation was performed once the project was completed.

After an analysis of the project was performed it was found that the module took approximately 6 months to complete with a budget of under $1 million. The total man hours to complete the module was 6000 hours. This project which began in 2007 was an effort to determine if in a fact a module created out of composite material could be constructed and designed to be safe and cost effective. The end result proved that space exploration in a composite built spacecraft was very possible.

So, you may be wondering if all this research into composites is really that necessary when it comes to space exploration. To put it bluntly, it is! Think about this. In space there is a hidden danger that isn’t found on earth. That danger is cosmic radiation. Carbon composites like nanotubes have a unique quality is being able to supply up to 600 times the strength as typical composites. Nanotubes have been found to be the best material to use in NASA’s attempt to build the perfect spacecraft. Take a look some more amazing facts on nanotubes and how they benefit the space industry here.

In space, the ultimate adversary for human travel has to be Galactic Cosmic Radiation. Researchers have found that this form of radiation is difficult to shield from using metals. In fact it was determined that this is the worst form of protection! Lighter elements like helium and hydrogen were found to be the best line of defense against GCR. Using light weight composites in spacecraft is important when it comes to cost but the benefits of using them exceed just the cost associated. So much so that composite use in today’s exploration may very well be the only way to ensure the safety of both the aircraft and the human’s it transports.

Space exploration has come along way since Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon in 1969. While Armstrong and the astronauts who traveled with him to the moon were pioneers in space exploration, the efforts to travel farther continued in the following decades. The use of composites help to create a module that can protect astronauts from cancer causing radiation and allows for added strength than if metals were used. Additionally, composites can be refined which is why tests are constantly performed in the quest for stronger, lighter materials.

Which are the Modern Fibre Composites?

You would have to been living under a rock to not have heard of the material ‘fibreglass’. This was the first modern fibre composite and is widely used all over the world.

Fibreglass

Glass fibres have been produced for centuries, but mass production of glass strands was discovered by Games Slayter  in 1932 when he accidentally directed a jet of compressed air at a stream of molten glass and produced fibres.

This early fibreglass composite was patented by Games and his company in the 1930′s, but the evolution of the fibreglass that we use today had only just begun.

There are five major types of Fibreglass. A-glass (alkali glass) which has good chemical resistance, but lower electrical properties. C-glass (chemical glass) which has very high chemical resistance. E-glass (electrical glass) which is an excellent insulator and resists attacks from water. S-Glass (structural glass) which is optimised for mechanical properties. D-glass (dielectric glass) which has the best electrical properties but lacks in mechanical properties when compared to E and S glass.

E-glass and S-glass are, by far, the most common types found in composites.

A Roll of Fibreglass

Fibreglass is not as strong a composite as carbon fibre composites, however, the bass materials are much cheaper. This allows for the mass production of fibre glass composites to the point where it has become a household name and used by almost every industry.

Carbon Fibre

Put simply, carbon fibre is a composite made of thousands of  long thin strands of material mostly made up of carbon atoms (no surprises there). It is an extremely thin material, the fibres being about 5–10 μm in diameter. But even though it is thin, it is extremely strong, and is also much lighter and less dense than most other materials.

The future uses of Carbon Fibre are untold and as the years go by the cost to produce and manufacture it are lowering. This is allowing the uses of carbon fibre to be far more wide spread and by a wider range of industries.

Years ago, carbon fibre composites were so expensive and complicated to produce that their use was limited to hugely wealthy industries such as the aerospace industry. The aerospace industry used these carbon fibres in many different ways and carried on developing and improving the manufacturing process. This produced composites that were stronger and lighter than they have ever been.

This composite was also used in the production of the world’s fastest cars and supercars. If you are a fan of fast cars, why not take a look this article which asks the question: Is the full carbon fibre racing car a reality?

Is the full carbon fibre racing car a reality?

It starts becoming clearer why carbon fibre is an extremely effective material to use in the production of items that require strength or speed.

Thankfully these very wealthy industries continued to improve the qualities of carbon fibre, and refined the manufacturing process.

This allowed for other industries to be able to start using carbon fibres as it became more affordable. One such industry is the construction industry. Carbon fibre is such a versatile material and it has the qualities perfect to be used in construction:  it is extremely strong and has a high elastic modulus and fatigue strength. This means that it is highly chemically resistant and has a high temperature tolerance with low thermal expansion and corrosion resistance. Carbon fibre is being used to build bridges and to repair old buildings that might otherwise not have been safe to enter. It is even being used to build houses that could be resistant to earthquakes.

Other industries developing the use of carbon fibre in their products are the bicycle industry and the sporting equipment industry. One beautiful example can be seen in the new snow bike made with 3BM’s amazing carbon fibre concept. This powerful and super speedy snow bike is just one (very cool) example of how the development of composites are changing the world we all live in. One inspirational example of this is the use of carbon fibre to create prosthetic feet for amputees. To read more about the use of composites in the medical industry please see this article.

Other Fibre Composites

As mentioned above, carbon and glass fibres are the two most common fibre composites that are currently used, but there are others.

The fibre amarid, mentioned at the beginning of the article, is  the one used in Kevlar® body armour. Wood and plastic fibre composites are used in the flooring industry to make wooden floor boards and decking. These wood-plastic composites are argued to be more environmentally friendly and require less maintenance than the alternatives of solid wood treated with preservatives.

Fibre Composites in the Future

As a human race we are getting higher and faster than ever before. The use of fibre composites is allowing us to build safer houses, to fix the human body, to build bigger and longer lasting structures. The more that the big companies develop the manufacturing process, the more readily available these carbon fibres composites will be for smaller industries. The possibilities are endless.