Strength from Structure

Carbon fiber is made of thin strands — 5-10 micrometers in diameter, thinner than a human hair — that are almost entirely carbon atoms aligned in a crystalline structure along the fiber's length.

A single carbon fiber strand is thin and stiff but useless alone. The magic happens when thousands are woven into fabric and embedded in a resin matrix. The composite combines the fiber's extraordinary strength with the resin's ability to distribute loads evenly.