Carbon (fiber)

Carbon fiber is a very strong and light material made of tiny fibers that are thinner than a human hair. These fibers are made of carbon, which is a type of element that is found in things like charcoal and diamonds.

To make carbon fiber, engineers use a special process called "carbonization". They start with a material called "precursor", which can be made from things like plastic or rayon. They heat up the precursor to very high temperatures in a special oven, and this makes all the non-carbon materials burn off, leaving only the carbon fibers behind.

Once the carbon fibers are made, manufacturers can use them to make all sorts of things like airplane parts, sports equipment, and even cars. Carbon fiber is so strong that it can be used to make things that need to be both lightweight and sturdy, like bike frames or airplane wings.

Although carbon fiber is really strong, it can also be a bit more expensive than other materials. But because it is so light, it can help save on fuel costs, which can make it worth the extra expense in the long run.