Focus on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composites Manufacturing and Properties

From last few decades, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are emerging as the most promising composite for many industrial applications comprising of aerospace industries, automotive industries, marine industries and renewable energy. A huge consideration is given to these composite materials over old conventional materials because of its exceptional properties such as high strength/stiffness to their weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance properties. Different polymers i.e., thermoplastics, thermosetting and elastomers can be used as matrix for fabrication of composites. Out of these, the main emphasis is given to the thermoplastic polymers due to its advantage of having good flexibility, recyclability, easy processing and less manufacturing time. In this chapter, the different manufacturing techniques such as filament winding, vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) compression molding, injection molding and pultrusion process and the curing processes of carbon fiber reinforced composites using thermal curing mechanism and radiation curing is discussed. The properties of CFRP composites i.e., mechanical strength and modulus properties, electromagnetic shielding effectiveness, thermal stability, thermal conductivity and the surface modification effect on CFRP composites are thoroughly discussed. Overall, this chapter focuses and summaries the ongoing research and development and future prospective of these composite materials.