Simulations Reveal the Secret to Strengthening Carbon Fiber

Researchers at ORNL find a way to make carbon fiber even stronger

Stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, carbon fiber is a staple in aerospace and high-performance vehicles — and now, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have found a way to make it even stronger. ORNL researchers simulated five million atoms to study a novel process for making carbon-fiber composites stronger and more cost efficient by incorporating a reinforced layer of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers, or PAN nanofibers. Le…

Simulations Reveal the Secret to Strengthening Carbon Fiber

Stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, carbon fiber is a staple in aerospace and high-performance vehicles -- and now, scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a way to make it even stronger.