Generally People use loosely the term graphite and carbon fiber to designate the same thing. But in fact it isn’t really the same thing. One is a better quality than the other. Let’s take a closer look to the difference between the carbon fiber and the graphite fiber.
Simply put the Carbon can be made from three raw materials. Pitch, rayon or Polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The Pitch and rayon gives lesser quality Carbon fiber while PAN gives high quality fibers. Producing carbon fiber and graphite fibers requires a lot of energy. The molecules are heated to different degrees to produce different grade of fibers (see chart)
Carbonization
Temperature
(°C) |
Carbonization |
Carbonization |
Carbonization |
Graphitization |
Graphitization |
|
to 1000°C
(1,832.00°F) |
1000°C - 1500°C
(1,832.00°F - 2,732.00°F) |
1500°C - 2000°C
(2,732.00°F - 3,632.00°F) |
2000°C - 2500 °C
(3,632.00°F+) |
2500 °C- 3000°C |
Grade |
Low
Modulus
Carbon fiber |
Standard
Modulus
Carbon fiber |
Intermediate
Modulus
Carbon fiber |
High
Modulus
Graphite fiber |
Ultra high
modulus
Graphite fiber |
Modulus of Elasticity (GPa) |
to 200 |
200 - 250 |
250 - 325 |
325-400 |
400-540 |
The graphite fiber is the best, strongest fiber available on the market. Ultra high modulus is 260% stiffer than high tensile steel. No wonder why there’s a worldwide shortage of carbon fiber!
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