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Auto Racing/F1- carbon fibre

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Expert: - 12/17/2006


Question
can you tell me why carbon fibre is so strong?

Answer
Not really except that carbon is an important component in stronger steels , you may have heard of high carbon steel.

Carbon is also the black stuff that makes pencil lead black, and it's a primary element in nearly everything you can think of.   Now mixed with a high strength epoxy bonding agent and you get carbon reinforced polymers.  Like fiber glass, it adds strength to the plastic it's mixed with. Carbon fiber composites are extremely light, which is part of their appeal in building racing cars. It's also outrageously expensive. I know a single brake rotor used to cost $25,000.00 and that was 10-12 years ago !!

No I don't know why it's so strong, That would be a question for a chemical engineer, and it's a VERY complex issue.

Good luck

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida  

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Dan Liddy

Expertise

Anything concerning race cars, 20 years competition experience, Senior Competition Driver Instructor , car builder, mechanic, welding, fabrication, tuning , engine modifications, set up, suspension design. Specializing in Datsun/Nissan products. Please submit questions about RACE CARS ONLY. No street cars, no video game scenarios Thank you.

Experience

I have been racing for 20 years, I have been the Central Florida SCCA Regional Championship points for 5 years running, and won the championship in my class 2 times. During my first start in the 60's I won many solo awards and the State Championship Drags. I serve as a senior instructor for SCCA, and have taught in Mercedes AMG events at Daytona, and Dodge Viper Days at Sebring International. I have been in the thick of the competition for all of my career. At one time or another I have driven race cars at speeds nearing 195 MPH. It's quite a ride !

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