Carbon fiber composite materials have good mechanical properties. Hulls made of carbon fiber are more lightweight and fuel-saving, easily processed and quick forming, costless in construction and maintenance than steel ones. Secondly, the interface between the carbon fiber and the resin matrix can effectively prevent crack, strengthening the fatigue resistance of the material. Additionally, due to the inertness of carbon fiber surface, the hull is corrosion resistant and is hard for aquatic organisms to grow. This is an important factor in choosing the material of marine construction. The unique performance of carbon fiber in marine construction leads to the wide use of composites and drives the development of the carbon fiber industry.
Carbon Fiber Composite on Marine Use
Military Vessels
Carbon fiber composites are good at acoustic, magnetic, and electrical properties, and wave and sound permeability. Since there carbon fiber contains no magnetism, it is beneficial to the stealth performance of warships. Let alone the total weight reduction of the ship, by using composites, it is enabled to embed a frequency selective and wave filtering layer in the warship. It will be able to emit and receive electromagnetic waves at a predetermined frequency, thereby shielding the enemy’s radar waves.
Carbon fiber composites can also be used in ship propulsion systems, such as propellers and shafts, to reduce the vibration and noise of the hull, mostly for reconnaissance ships and fast cruise ships. It can be also used as rudders in some machinery and equipment, special mechanical devices and piping systems. In addition, high-strength carbon fiber ropes are also popular in warship cables and other military items.
Civil Yachts
Large yachts are often privately owned and quite expensive, requiring lightweight, high strength and durability. Carbon fiber composites can be applied to the dashboard and antennas in yachts, as the reinforcement of rudders, decks, cabins, and bulkheads. The traditional composite yacht is mainly made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, but due to insufficient rigidity, the hull is often too heavy after meeting the rigidity requirements. On the other hand, glass fiber is a carcinogen, which is gradually banned abroad. The use rate of carbon fiber composites in today’s composite yachts has greatly increased, and some yachts even use carbon fiber only.
