Carbon Fibre in Aerospace Applications
topic
Aerospace applications (35% of carbon fibre demand): commercial aircraft primary structures (fuselage, wings—Boeing 787, Airbus A350 using 50,000-70,000 kg carbon fibre per aircraft), military aircraft (F-35 35% composites), satellites (ultra-high modulus for dimensional stability), and space launch vehicles (interstage structures, fairings, pressure vessels). Material qualification requires extensive testing (100,000+ hours) to FAA/EASA standards.
Role
Aerospace drives carbon fibre technology development through demanding requirements (strength, fatigue, damage tolerance, fire safety) and willingness to pay premium ($30-100/kg) for weight savings (fuel savings $3,000-5,000 per kg over aircraft life).