Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)

Composite matrix of carbon fibers embedded in epoxy resin.

Core Principles & Analysis

• The Boeing 787 Dreamliner airframe is about 50% composite by weight, most of it CFRP.
• Most carbon fiber is made by oxidizing and then carbonizing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor fiber at temperatures above 1,000 °C.
• Autoclave curing applies heat and roughly 6-7 bar of pressure to squeeze voids out of the epoxy matrix during consolidation.

Specifications & Metrics

• DENSITY: 1.55 g/cm³
• YIELD STRENGTH: 1800 MPa
• HARDNESS: N/A