Carbon nanofibers
Carbon nanofibers are super tiny things that are made of the same stuff that pencils are made of (carbon). They are so small that you can't even see them with your eyes or a regular microscope.
Think of it this way, if you were to break a pencil tip into tiny, tiny pieces and keep breaking it until it's really, really small, that's kind of what a carbon nanofiber looks like.
These tiny fibers are really strong, so strong that they are sometimes used to make things like airplane parts, sports equipment, and even car parts.
Scientists can make carbon nanofibers by heating up different types of carbon materials, like graphite, at really high temperatures. This process is called carbonization.
While carbon nanofibers are really cool, scientists are still figuring out all the things they can do with them. But they hold a lot of promise for making the world a better place, like creating stronger and lighter materials that can help reduce waste and energy use.
Think of it this way, if you were to break a pencil tip into tiny, tiny pieces and keep breaking it until it's really, really small, that's kind of what a carbon nanofiber looks like.
These tiny fibers are really strong, so strong that they are sometimes used to make things like airplane parts, sports equipment, and even car parts.
Scientists can make carbon nanofibers by heating up different types of carbon materials, like graphite, at really high temperatures. This process is called carbonization.
While carbon nanofibers are really cool, scientists are still figuring out all the things they can do with them. But they hold a lot of promise for making the world a better place, like creating stronger and lighter materials that can help reduce waste and energy use.
Related topics others have asked about: