Rigidity is also known as stiffness. Carbon fiber and fiberglass are both very strong, but Carbon fiber is more rigid. Carbon fiber is about 3 times stiffer than steel and aluminum for a given weight.

Benzinger W, Hüttinger KJ (1999) Chemistry and kinetics of chemical vapor infiltration of pyrocarbon-IV. Investigation of methane/hydrogen mixtures. Carbon 37:931–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(98)00248-6 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 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 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 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. WeightThe shape of Carbon fiber doesn’t deteriorate over time. That means the shape of carbon fibre doesn’t change when consistent and constant force is applied on it. 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. Carbon fiber is lighter than fiberglass, it’s 70% lighter than steel, 40% lighter than Aluminum. The nature of carbon fiber is low in weight, rigid, and strong. This is why most weight-critical performance products use carbon fiber, and it’s a far more popular choice of material for mini quad frames. Strength vs Rigidity Delhaes P (2002) Chemical vapor deposition and infiltration processes of carbon materials. Carbon 40:641–657. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(01)00195-6 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

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 . 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. 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 High temperature vacuum furnace applications such as nitriding, carburising and heat treating of components 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

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 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? 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. Relevant to a wide variety of high-specification markets, our carbon and graphite felts can bring tangible benefits to applications including: The Royal Academy of Engineering has awarded Professor Kinloch a research chair, which will help fund the project. Using experimentation, state-of-the-art analysis and analytical models, the five-year project will pave the way to

Soft carbon felt has also long been the standard for use as thermal insulation in high temperature, vacuum furnaces and inert gas, electric furnaces. Once heated to a high temperature carbon fibre becomes a pure carbon thermal insulator, wrapping the furnace interior like a blanket. During this collaboration Kinloch and Morgan will be looking into how the carbon can be weaved to reflect the heat more efficiently. 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.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. Generally, fiberglass components are viewed as more cost-effective as compared to their carbon fiber counterparts. This is due in large part to the fact that fiberglass is used in a wider range of applications and manufacturing costs are significantly lower. Carbon fiber manufacturing is a much more involved process and there are fewer established manufacturers in the industry. Conclusion