These parts undergo huge amounts of pressure to ensure no leaks occur, while pumping water in high volumes, and are used from large-scale industrial pumps all the way through to pumps in coffee machines. Guo L, Zhang D, Li K, Li H (2009) Fabrication of isotropic pyrocarbon at 1400 °c by thermal gradient chemical vapor deposition apparatus. J Wuhan Univ Technol Mater Sci Ed 24:728–731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11595-009-5728-7 Carbon fibre sheets and felt sheets are widely used in industrial and domestic applications, providing lightweight yet highly durable protection. Manufactured from fibres and synthetic materials, these robust sheets help to provide an aesthetic finish, whilst offering optimum protection and durability. Why use carbon fibre sheets? Though carbon fiber and fiberglass share some similar attributes, and are used interchangeably in a handful of different industrial and everyday applications, the two materials are vastly different from one another. For instance… Strength Pumping water is a huge industry, and quite simply, cannot afford to fail. Key to keeping the industry’s pumps going are the seals and bearings.

High temperature vacuum furnace applications such as nitriding, carburising and heat treating of components Cost pressures on the steps of solar cell production are intensifying as solar cells become commoditised. For carbon insulation producers like Morgan, that translates into a need to develop more thermally insulating material and at lower cost. When it comes to carbon fiber vs fiberglass, can you tell the difference? Contrary to popular belief, the two are not one in the same. You’ll find that carbon fiber and fiberglass each have unique characteristics and provide unrivaled performance in specific applications. But to know which is right for your needs, you’ll want to know the differences between them (or trust that your fiberglass or carbon fiber manufacturer can steer you in the right direction, of course). Key Differences Between Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass Research shows that 20% of the industrial energy consumption is expended through pumping operations; thus, even incremental improvements in pumping efficiency would result in significant savings. Professor Kinloch’s work will focus on the fundamental mechanisms within carbon materials that dictate friction and wear at interfaces; Morgan’s strategy is to use this added understanding to create longer lasting seals and bearings.ASTM Standard E290-14 (1998) Standard test methods for bend testing of material for ductility. American Society for Testing and Materials. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0290-14

Our felt materials are processed to high temperatures ensuring a more stable product in extreme conditions and a higher purity while maintaining low thermal conductivity at high temperatures. This high temperature processing also serves to improve dimensional stability and prevent the further degassing and degradation of materials that could contaminate products.If your carbon fiber or fiberglass application will be exposed to harmful chemicals, acids, or abrasive environments, you’ll be happy to learn that either material is highly resistant to corrosion or chemical abrasions. Cost Zhang M, Su Z, Xie Z, Chen J, Huang Q (2012) Microstructure of pyrocarbon with chemical vapor infiltration. Procedia Eng 27:847–854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.12.530 Carbon fiber is significantly less flexible than fiberglass and is the preferred material for applications in which stiffness and rigidity is essential (mechanical components for example). Carbon fiber’ tensile modulus is 4 times that of fiberglass. For applications in which flexibility is required or rigidity isn’t imperative, fiberglass is often the preferred choice. Weight Unlike most materials, carbon fiber has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion which means that the material in its purest form actually expands in cold temperatures. However, the matrix in carbon fiber carries a positive coefficient of thermal expansion and the two typically offset one another for an overall coefficient of thermal expansion close to neutral. This is a fancy way of saying that carbon fiber materials do not contract in cold temperatures while fiberglass products may. So if extreme heat or cold is a factor, and thermal expansion is a concern, carbon fiber may be the better way to go. Corrosion Resistance

Fibreglass however being more flexible, it means that glass-fiber typically has a higher ultimate breaking point than a similarly shaped carbon fiber product, therefore having higher strength-to-weight ratio. In general it is a “tougher” material. The incredible rigidity of carbon makes it less capable of enduring certain abuses than fiberglass. I guess therefore you could say CF “more brittle” Thermal and Electrical Characteristics Not only do carbon seals and bearings reduce energy usage during the pumping process, but they are also safer and more hygienic. If carbon materials aren’t used, then invariably a secondary lubricant needs to be added into the pumping process. This brings the risk of mixing chemicals into the solution - for example lubricants mixing into coffee from the coffee machine poses a health risk to the user. As opposed to most other materials, carbon fiber has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion which means they don’t expand or shrink as much as fibreglass when the temperature changes. This is a desirable quality for applications that have to operate in a wide range of temperatures .

Olmec Advanced Materials Ltd - The UK’s biggest Supplier of Carbon and Graphite

Zhang SY, Yan XF, Li HJ, Li W, Guo LJ (2009) Deposition of pyrolytic carbon using ethanol as precursor in chemical vapor infiltration. Wuji Cailiao Xuebao [Journal of Inorganic Materials] 24:1073–1076 In applications where a small amount of flexibility is allowed, carbon fiber is a top choice. Fiberglass is better suited to extreme flex patterns, while carbon fiber has a relatively small flex window. Toughness Rayon-based, our carbon and graphite felts have been specifically developed to harness superb insulative properties including low thermal conductivity, dimensional stability and uniformity as well as low ash and high purity levels. Ofori JY, Sotirchos SV (1996) Optimal pressures and temperatures for isobaric, isothermal chemical vapor infiltration. AIChE J 42:2828–2840. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690421013