Carbon fiber shatter?

[SShep71]

Ok Paintballers,

So what started as a ignorant term by one of my amazing co-workers turned into a 40minute heated debate about carbon fiber. I said that carbon fiber is a generic and non-specific term for what is actually being described Carbon fiber reinforced polymer or any of the other variants. I also (and this is the big one) argued that ""carbon fiber"" does not shatter. Shatter as in the proper engineering term and not the layman's term. So in other words the structure or part actually breaks apart into other smaller pieces as compared to yielding or failing a.k.a. bending or breaking. Any input? I tried google but all I get are people that use the term shattered incorrectly. Does anyone have any input to help out.

[NJSPEEDER]

The best way to describe how carbon fiber strand breaks I have heard would be to compare it to a piece of string fraying. You end up with a bunch of broken ends and dust.

-Tim

[Bryce]

I am a test engineer for an aerospace company. I have done my fair share of CF failure tests.

The resin cracks and shatters. but the CF strands break and splinter.

[TLWiltman]

The term I've heard for what carbon fiber does when it breaks is "brooming". It basically ends up looking like the end of a broom with the resin crumbling and the carbon fibers sticking out from the fracture line. It's really not "hard" enough to truly shatter (thinking glass or many materials under very low temperature conditions)

[bel_mor]

never seen it "shatter" but i have seen it break much like smc does. But... not to say that giving the right circumstance. I'm sure that a hard enough impact would cause "carbon fiber" to shatter.. I mean n2o was flammable in fast and furious so why cant carbon fiber break right??? :D

[MrQuick]

Ok Paintballers,

So what started as a ignorant term by one of my amazing co-workers turned into a 40minute heated debate about carbon fiber. I said that carbon fiber is a generic and non-specific term for what is actually being described Carbon fiber reinforced polymer or any of the other variants. I also (and this is the big one) argued that ""carbon fiber"" does not shatter. Shatter as in the proper engineering term and not the layman's term. So in other words the structure or part actually breaks apart into other smaller pieces as compared to yielding or failing a.k.a. bending or breaking. Any input? I tried google but all I get are people that use the term shattered incorrectly. Does anyone have any input to help out.

I've learned a long time ago not to argue with idiots, they will pull you down to their level and beat you with experience. Not saying your friend is an idiot but I believe the uneducated may have similar results. In his defense. It depends on how thick the resin is. ;P