| a strong, stiff, thin fiber of nearly pure carbon, made by subjecting various organic raw materials to high temperatures, combined with synthetic resins to produce a strong, lightweight material used in construction of aircraft and spacecraft. |
| carbon fiber n. An extremely strong thin fiber made by pyrolyzing synthetic fibers, such as rayon, until charred. It is used to make high-strength composites. |
| carbon fiber
An extremely strong, thin fiber, consisting of long, chainlike molecules of pure carbon that are made by charring synthetic fibers such as rayon in the absence of oxygen. Carbon fibers are used in high-strength composite materials in aircraft, automobiles, architectural structures, and in other applications where light materials capable of withstanding high stress are required. |