Are you wondering what Carbon Fiber is.  Here is a brief explanation of the History behind Carbon Fiber. Where did it come from. How was it invented.  This revolutionary material was first invented in 1957 in Cleveland Ohio. It was by accident that the first fiber was invented. It was not the same as the Carbon Fiber known today, but was the basis for the beginning of its creation. Through the years the process of creating this fiber has improved leading to a superior product.  

Dr. Roger Bacon created the initial fibers at the Union Carbide Parma Technical Center outside Cleveland. Rayon was heated resulting in carbon fibers. These fibers are not as strong as they are today because they only contained 20 percent carbon.

Then in the 1960s after years of hard work, further experiments led to the development of a Carbon Fiber made up of 55 percent carbon. The process used Polyacrylonitrile "PAN". PAN is an organic polymer. It is chemically changed to create Carbon Fiber. This high quality carbon fiber was used in tennis rackets, badminton rackets, outdoor awnings, tents, and even carbon fiber fabric.

Later in the 1970s, Carbon fiber containing 85 percent fibers and possessing great strength were developed. This process used petroleum pitch as the raw material. The resulting Carbon Fiber is more durable and stronger than steel. Because of its low weight and tensile strength, carbon fiber is now very popular in the auto industry.

In the mid 1990s Carbon Fiber Hoods were the hot trend in Japan. Popular among racing enthusiast, it was used to decrease weight and improve performance. In the late 1990s it became popular in the United States. Racing enthusiasts wanting to modify their cars for better performance chose carbon fiber hoods to decrease overall car weight. Less weight increases vehicle speed, therefore increasing their competitive edge.  

USES:

• Automotive
• Sporting Goods
• AeroSpace
• Airline
• & More.