Carbon Fiber Hoods

Q: What is Carbon Fiber?

A: Carbon fiber is an extremely strong and light weight fiber that consists mostly of carbon atoms bonded together by microscopic crystals. Several thousands of carbon fibers are woven together to create a yarn which crisscrosses to make a fabric that can be injected with a plastic resin and molded to form a composite material. One composite called Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) is what is typically referred to as "Carbon Fiber" in the automotive industry. Carbon Fiber has a high strength to weight ratio that makes it an optimal material for use in the automotive industry creating subsitutes for metal counterparts. Since the year 2000, carbon fiber which was mostly used for very high end race cars has made its way on to the street racing, euro, domestic and import tuning scene.

Q: Why is Carbon Fiber in such demand for the average car enthusiast?

A: Carbon fiber has traditionally been used for its light weight properties in situations where mere grams matter, but its expansion into the public market has made it an attractive and trendy material. In the automotive tuning industry many parts are now availible in carbon fiber, most commonly used for replacement hoods/bonnets but also for trunks, doors, fenders, ground effects, spoilers and more. The cost of manufacturing carbon fiber has come down to an attractive level which now provides the consumer market with many fresh new options. While some enthusiasts buy carbon fiber parts for the weight savings, others find carbon fiber products to have an attractive and high tech look that simply adds style to the car. Most carbon fiber parts are finished with a gloss clear coat which provides protection and shine and eliminates the need for a body shop to paint and prep the part. Some carbon parts provide functional benefits such as vented hoods which release hot air from the engine bay, or body kits and spoilers which increased aerodynamics. And with the lower price of carbon fiber, some consumers opt to replace damaged factory parts with carbon fiber products.

Q: What is the difference between "Wet Laid" and "Dry" carbon fiber?

A: Carbon fiber used in the consumer market is most often made using a "wet laid" process. Wet laid carbon fiber is what most people refer to as "carbon fiber" when referring to automotive products and provides a great combination of price, wieght savings and visual attractiveness. Dry carbon fiber uses a different manufacturing process that yields an even greater strength and weight savings over wet laid carbon fiber products but typically costs about 3-4 times as much to manufacture. Dry carbon fiber is not widely availible in the consumer market and used primarily in the aerospace/military industries or in high end track racing. Some dry carbon fiber products are now availible but in limited applications and only recommended for enthusiasts looking to shave every possible gram.

Q: Can you go into more detail about what carbon fiber products can do to increase the performance of my vehicle:

A: The primary performance benefit is reducing the vehicles weight over its stock counterparts. Reducing the overall weight of the vehilce improves the vehicles power to weight ratio. Less mass means less mass to accelerate which means faster acceleration as well as improved agility and a lower center of gravity. Aerodynamic parts such as ground effects and spoilers reduce the vehicles drag as well as push the vehicle closer to the ground for improved handling. With vented carbon fiber hoods/bonnets, these products either help in extracting hot air from the engine bay, feed cool air into the engine bay or both.