About Carbon
The Importance of Carbon Fiber Plate
The Importance of Carbon Fiber Plate
Carbon fiber plate is a composite material consisting of ninety-odd percent pure carbon and five percent silicon carbide resins. These carbon fiber plates are made up of orthogradites (carbon fibers of various thicknesses) using a semi-symmetrical twill weave at 90 / 45 degrees orientation, while still maintaining a balanced and symmetrical laminate. They're textured on both sides for tongue-and-groove bonding and provide a gloss, satin or bumpy finish on the opposite side. They're designed to withstand wear, tear and compression as well as be used as a carrier for nearly every imaginable coating. These plates are tough, lightweight and extremely accurate; it's said to be like looking at a carbon fiber rendering.
The strength and rigidity of these plates is due to their composition. The ninety-odd percent pure carbon fiber plate is made up of carbon and Kevlar or another similar material with high tensile strengths. The other five percent is made up of silicon carbide with other composites such as boron, ceramic or nitriding composites. The plate can be expected to have a stiffness range of one hundred thousand to one hundred million pounds per square inch. This is what makes them ideal for use in high performance applications where high strength and/or stiffness is required.
Another benefit of carbon fiber plate is an increase in energy return. The high stiffness of the plates helps to make them stiff enough to prevent springing or bouncing while running. The springiness is caused by the high temperatures the plate experiences while running, which causes the fibers to form an elastic shield around the outside of the plate, slowing down its deformation. This increased energy return adds to the benefits of having a less boundary condition. Less boundary condition leads to less heat transfer and more efficient transfer of energy.
Many manufacturers of athletic products are using carbon fiber sheets in specialized running shoes. These high performance sheets are not used in everyday consumer products like running shoes, though. Manufacturers of high performance sheets are limited to the cost and weight of the carbon fiber sheets alone. These composites are much too expensive for the cost savings it offers in manufacturing.
One company has developed a special version of its foam called Armara that works well in high performance shoes. Armara is made of three layers of foam constructed of carbon fiber plate. This enables the company to use a much larger area of the shoe with the same weight and stiffness, which allows the manufacturer to produce much higher quality running shoes with the identical ultimate result at a lower overall cost. The high level of uniformity in the Armara plate also increases the uniformity in the shoe construction, meaning that a pair of running shoes using Armara will look virtually identical from one retailer to the next.
Carbon fiber plates have another advantage in that they do not lose energy as they expand and contract. Because the plates are stiff when cold and flexible when hot, their shape preserves the springiness that is desirable in running shoes. Standard materials, such as EVA, will quickly lose springiness and act as a heat trap if heated. Because the springiness of carbon fiber plates is maintained, they offer a consistent energy return. This consistency in energy return makes them ideal for sports where fast, abrupt changes of direction require an extra kick of the toe to get you moving again in a safe manner.
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