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Carbon Fiber and Racing

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Posted September 25, 2017 in Carbon Fiber

Most of today’s cars are made of steel, the tried-and-true metal for large-scale industrial machinery. While steel can be forged into car beams, panels, and roofs, it is a rudimentary material compared to newer technologies. The materials used in vehicle manufacturing have become safer and more sophisticated over the years, offering top-of-the-line performance and safety. Carbon fiber is a revolutionary and supreme component for racing vehicles because it is lighter and more durable than steel.

What Is Carbon Fiber?

Carbon fiber is composed of thin strands of carbon filament that are twisted and woven like cloth. Unlike cloth fabric, however, carbon fiber is five times as strong as steel. It can be draped over a mold and coated with resin to retain the desired shape, giving manufacturers and carbon fiber specialists the ability to create unique, pragmatic automotive parts. Some advantages of carbon fiber include the following qualities:

  • Lightweight: The weight of a car has a direct correlation with how much fuel it takes to power it. Carbon fiber is lightweight; therefore, it is fuel-efficient without making any changes to the engine. The less a car weighs, the easier it is to maneuver around the racetrack, making carbon fiber the optimal choice for racing vehicles.
  • Durable: Carbon fiber is exceptionally rigid, more so than steel is. It also does not rust or rot, so car owners who plan to keep their vehicles for the long haul can be reassured it’ll last.
  • Safe: Fuel-efficiency and durability aside, carbon fiber is also incredibly safe. It responds just as well, or arguably better, to crash simulation as steel does. It is so reliable, in fact, that Formula One cars are exclusively carbon fiber for its safety features.

Finding a carbon fiber specialist is vital to maintaining and repairing the material. For carbon fiber services in Southern California, call 911 Design at 909.982.9112 or contact us online.

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