Carbon/Carbon Composite Materials are composites reinforced with carbon fibers and their fabrics, embedded in a carbon matrix. First discovered in 1958 by the CHANCE VOUGHT Laboratory in the United States, they are now a key focus of research and development in cutting-edge high-tech fields worldwide. These materials offer several notable advantages:
(1) The entire system is composed entirely of carbon elements. Thanks to the exceptionally strong affinity among carbon atoms, these composites exhibit excellent stability both at low and high temperatures. Moreover, the inherent high-melting-point nature of carbon-based materials endows them with outstanding thermal resistance, allowing prolonged use—up to 2500°C—in protective atmospheres.
(2) They demonstrate exceptional mechanical performance at elevated temperatures, currently ranking as the material with the best high-temperature mechanical properties in inert atmospheres. More significantly, unlike most other structural materials, the strength of carbon/carbon composites actually increases with rising temperature, even surpassing their room-temperature performance—a characteristic unmatched by any other engineering material.
(3) These materials have a remarkably low density—less than 2.0 g/cm³—making them about one-fourth the weight of nickel-based superalloys and half that of ceramic materials.
(4) They also boast excellent ablation resistance, with uniform erosion patterns, enabling them to withstand extreme temperatures exceeding 3000°C in short-term ablation environments.
(5) Additionally, they exhibit superior resistance to friction and wear, making them an ideal candidate for a wide range of wear-resistant and friction-reducing components.
Comparison of Carbon/Carbon Composites with Other Materials
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Compared to "metal"
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● Excellent heat resistance
● Extremely low thermal expansion rate
● Extremely lightweight (only 1/5 the weight of iron)
● Excellent corrosion resistance
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Comparison with "Graphite"
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● Higher strength
● Better toughness, less likely to break
● Highly customizable
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Compared to "ceramics"
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● Better toughness, less likely to break
●Non-stick (does not glue together)
● Excellent thermal shock resistance
●Easy to process
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Compared to "resin"
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● Excellent heat resistance
● Excellent corrosion resistance
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