Simulations reveal the secret to strengthening carbon fiber
ORNL researchers found a way to double the tensile strength of carbon-fiber composites by reinforcing the material with a thin layer of PAN nanofibers. A human hair is approximately 100 times wider than one of these fibers. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy Stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, carbon fiber is a staple in aerospace and high-performance vehicles — and now, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a way to make it ev