Carbon fiber vs. Steel: similarities and differences

Carbon fiber and steel are both extensively used materials in various industries, known for their unique properties and wide-ranging applications. They are often compared because carbon fiber offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, lightweight structure, and excellent corrosion resistance, with tensile strengths up to 6,000 MPa and a density of 1.6 g/cm³, while steel is renowned for its immense strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness, with tensile strengths ranging from 400 to 1,200 MPa and a density of 7.85 g/cm³. 

This article explores the similarities and differences between carbon fiber and steel, highlighting their uses in automotive, aerospace, construction, and sporting goods, and examining why one may be chosen over the other in specific applications.

Table of Contents

What is Carbon Fiber?

Carbon fiber is a high-strength, lightweight material made from thin strands of carbon atoms bonded together in a crystalline formation, offering exceptional tensile strength up to 6,000 MPa and a low density of approximately 1.6 g/cm³, making it ideal for applications requiring superior strength-to-weight ratios and corrosion resistance.

What does carbon fiber look like?

Carbon fiber typically appears as a black or dark gray material with a distinctive woven or checkered pattern due to the interlacing of carbon filaments, and finished products often exhibit a glossy, sleek surface that highlights this unique texture.

What is carbon fiber used for?

Carbon fiber is used for a wide range of applications, including aerospace components, automotive parts, sporting goods, bicycle frames, medical devices, wind turbine blades, and high-performance racing equipment, due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, rigidity, and excellent corrosion resistance.

What are the examples of carbon fiber?

The examples of carbon fiber include carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) used in aerospace components, carbon fiber cloth for automotive parts, prepreg carbon fiber sheets in sporting goods, carbon fiber tubes in bicycle frames, and carbon fiber panels in wind turbine blades.

What are the advantages of carbon fiber?

The advantages of carbon fiber are listed below.

  1. High strength-to-weight ratio
  2. Exceptional stiffness
  3. Excellent corrosion resistance
  4. Low thermal expansion
  5. Superior fatigue resistance
What are the disadvantages of carbon fiber?

The disadvantages of carbon fiber are listed below.

  1. High cost
  2. Brittleness
  3. Difficulty in repair
  4. Complex manufacturing process
  5. Susceptibility to UV damage

What is steel?

Steel is an alloy primarily composed of iron and carbon, with a typical carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, known for its high tensile strength, durability, and versatility, with tensile strengths ranging from 400 to 1,200 MPa and a density of approximately 7.85 g/cm³, making it essential for construction, automotive, and manufacturing applications.

What does steel look like?

Steel typically appears as a shiny, silvery-gray metal with a smooth surface, which can be polished to a high gloss or left with a matte finish, and it often exhibits a clean, reflective look due to its high luster and uniform texture.

What is steel used for?

Steel is used for a wide range of applications, including construction beams, automotive components, machinery, shipbuilding, tools, household appliances, and bicycle frames, due to its high tensile strength, durability, and versatility.

What are the examples of steel?

The examples of steel include stainless steel for kitchen appliances, carbon steel for construction beams, alloy steel for automotive parts, tool steel for cutting and drilling tools, and chromoly steel for bicycle frames.

What are the advantages of steel?

The advantages of steel are listed below.

  1. High tensile strength
  2. Durability
  3. Cost-effectiveness
  4. Versatility
  5. Recyclability
What are the disadvantages of steel?

The disadvantages of steel are listed below.

  1. Susceptibility to corrosion (without proper treatment)
  2. Heavier weight compared to some materials
  3. Potential for brittleness in cold temperatures
  4. High thermal conductivity
  5. Requires regular maintenance to prevent rust and wear

What are the similarities between carbon fiber and steel?

The similarities between carbon fiber and steel include their high strength, wide range of applications, customization capabilities, recyclability, and use in bicycle frames.

  1. High Strength: Both carbon fiber and steel offer high tensile strength, with carbon fiber reaching up to 6,000 MPa and steel ranging from 400 to 1,200 MPa, making them suitable for demanding structural applications.
  2. Wide Range of Applications: Both materials are used in various industries, including construction, automotive, aerospace, and sporting goods, due to their robust mechanical properties.
  3. Customization Capabilities: Carbon fiber can be molded into complex shapes through layering and resin processes, while steel can be forged, welded, and machined into various forms to meet specific design requirements.
  4. Recyclability: Both carbon fiber and steel are recyclable, contributing to sustainability efforts; steel is easily melted down and reused, while carbon fiber can be reclaimed and repurposed, though the process is more complex.
  5. Use in Bicycle Frames: Both materials are popular in the manufacture of bicycle frames, with carbon fiber prized for its lightweight and stiffness, and steel valued for its durability and comfortable ride quality.

What are the differences between carbon fiber and steel?

The differences between carbon fiber and steel include their weight, corrosion resistance, manufacturing process, cost, and impact resistance.

  1. Weight: Carbon fiber is significantly lighter than steel, with a density of 1.6 g/cm³ compared to steel’s 7.85 g/cm³, making carbon fiber ideal for applications where reducing weight is critical.
  2. Corrosion Resistance: Carbon fiber offers excellent corrosion resistance due to its non-metallic nature, whereas steel, if not properly treated, is susceptible to rust and corrosion.
  3. Manufacturing Process: The manufacturing process for carbon fiber involves layering and curing carbon filaments with resin, which is complex and labor-intensive, while steel manufacturing involves melting, casting, and machining, which are more straightforward and established.
  4. Cost: Carbon fiber is generally more expensive than steel, with carbon fiber components costing between $60 and $120 per kg, compared to steel components that typically cost between $0.50 and $1 per kg.
  5. Impact Resistance: Steel has higher impact resistance and can absorb shocks better than carbon fiber, which is more brittle and prone to cracking under sudden impacts.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel weight

The weight of carbon fiber versus steel shows significant differences due to their distinct densities. The weight of carbon fiber is much lower than steel, with carbon fiber having a density of 1.6 g/cm³ compared to steel’s 7.85 g/cm³, making carbon fiber significantly lighter and ideal for applications where weight reduction is critical.

MaterialDensity (g/cm³)
Carbon Fiber1.6
Steel7.85

Carbon fiber vs. Steel weight

Is carbon fiber lighter than steel?

Yes, carbon fiber is approximately 4.9 times lighter than steel, with a density of 1.6 g/cm³ compared to steel’s 7.85 g/cm³.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel strength

The strength of carbon fiber versus steel shows differences in tensile strength and yield strength. The strength of carbon fiber is significantly higher in terms of tensile strength, reaching up to 6,000 MPa, whereas steel typically has a tensile strength ranging from 400 to 1,200 MPa and a yield strength between 250 and 1,000 MPa, making steel strong but heavier and less tensile compared to carbon fiber.

MaterialTensile Strength (MPa)Yield Strength (MPa)
Carbon FiberUp to 6,000N/A
Steel400 – 1,200250 – 1,000

Carbon fiber vs. Steel strength

Is carbon fiber stronger than steel?

Yes, carbon fiber is stronger than steel in terms of tensile strength, with carbon fiber reaching up to 6,000 MPa, which is approximately 5 to 15 times stronger than steel, which has tensile strengths ranging from 400 to 1,200 MPa.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel stiffness

The stiffness of carbon fiber versus steel shows differences in their modulus of elasticity. The stiffness of carbon fiber varies widely depending on the type, with a modulus of elasticity ranging from 70 to 294 GPa, whereas steel has a relatively consistent modulus of elasticity around 200 GPa, making steel stiffer than some types of carbon fiber but less stiff than high-modulus carbon fiber.

MaterialModulus of Elasticity (GPa)
Carbon Fiber70 – 294
Steel200

Carbon fiber vs. Steel stiffness

Is carbon fiber stiffer than steel?

No, carbon fiber is not generally stiffer than steel; however, it can be depending on the type. Carbon fiber’s modulus of elasticity ranges from 70 to 294 GPa, while steel’s modulus of elasticity is consistently around 200 GPa. This means that standard carbon fiber is less stiff, but high-modulus carbon fiber can be up to 1.5 times stiffer than steel.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel thermal properties

The thermal properties of carbon fiber versus steel show significant differences in thermal conductivity and thermal expansion. The thermal properties of carbon fiber versus steel indicate that carbon fiber has much lower thermal conductivity and thermal expansion compared to steel, making carbon fiber better suited for applications requiring thermal stability, while steel’s higher thermal conductivity makes it more effective for heat dissipation.

MaterialThermal Conductivity (W/m·K)Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (µm/m·°C)
Carbon Fiber5 – 100.1 – 0.5
Steel45 – 6011 – 13

Carbon fiber vs. Steel thermal properties

Does carbon fiber have better thermal properties than steel?

No, carbon fiber does not have better thermal properties than steel because it has much lower thermal conductivity (5 – 10 W/m·K compared to steel’s 45 – 60 W/m·K) and a much lower coefficient of thermal expansion (0.1 – 0.5 µm/m·°C compared to steel’s 11 – 13 µm/m·°C), making it more thermally stable but less effective at conducting heat.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel electrical conductivity

The electrical conductivity of carbon fiber versus steel shows significant differences, with steel being much more conductive. The electrical conductivity of carbon fiber versus steel indicates that steel has much higher electrical conductivity, ranging from 10% to 15% IACS, compared to carbon fiber’s very low conductivity of 0.5% to 1% IACS. This makes steel much more effective for applications requiring efficient electrical conduction.

MaterialElectrical Conductivity (% IACS)Electrical Resistivity (µΩ·cm)
Carbon Fiber0.5 – 11500 – 5000
Steel10 – 1570 – 100

Carbon fiber vs. Steel electrical conductivity

Is carbon fiber more conductive than steel?

No, carbon fiber is not more conductive than steel because carbon fiber has an electrical conductivity of 0.5% to 1% IACS, which is significantly lower than steel’s 10% to 15% IACS, making steel approximately 10 to 30 times more conductive than carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel modulus of elasticity

The modulus of elasticity of carbon fiber versus steel shows differences in their stiffness. The modulus of elasticity of carbon fiber versus steel indicates that carbon fiber can range from 70 to 294 GPa depending on the type, while steel has a relatively consistent modulus of elasticity around 200 GPa. This means that high-modulus carbon fiber can be stiffer than steel, but standard carbon fiber is generally less stiff.

MaterialModulus of Elasticity (GPa)
Carbon Fiber70 – 294
Steel200

 

Does carbon fiber have a higher modulus of elasticity than steel?

No, carbon fiber does not have a higher modulus of elasticity than steel in most cases. The modulus of elasticity of carbon fiber ranges from 70 to 294 GPa, while steel has a modulus of elasticity of around 200 GPa. Therefore, standard carbon fiber is less stiff, and only high-modulus carbon fiber can be stiffer than steel. Carbon fiber is also approximately 4.9 times lighter than steel, with a density of 1.6 g/cm³ compared to steel’s 7.85 g/cm³.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel cost

The cost of carbon fiber versus steel shows significant differences due to the complexity of manufacturing processes and material availability. The cost of carbon fiber versus steel indicates that carbon fiber is significantly more expensive, costing between $60 and $120 per kg, while steel is much more affordable, costing between $0.50 and $1.50 per kg. This substantial difference in cost reflects the advanced manufacturing processes and high material costs associated with carbon fiber compared to the more readily available and easier-to-process steel.

MaterialCost (USD per kg)
Carbon Fiber$60 – $120
Steel$0.50 – $1.50

 

Is carbon fiber more expensive than steel?

Yes, carbon fiber is more expensive than steel because it costs between $60 and $120 per kg, which is approximately 40 to 240 times more expensive than steel, which costs between $0.50 and $1.50 per kg.

What are the costs of manufacturing carbon fiber vs. steel?

The costs of manufacturing carbon fiber versus steel are significantly different, with carbon fiber manufacturing costing around $60 to $120 per kg due to its complex and labor-intensive processes involving high-temperature treatments and resin impregnation, while steel manufacturing costs about $0.50 to $1.50 per kg due to its more straightforward, established, and efficient production methods involving melting, casting, and rolling.

What are the costs of manufacturing carbon fiber bikes vs. steel?

The costs of manufacturing carbon fiber bikes versus steel bikes are significantly different from brand to brand and bike types, with carbon fiber bike frames costing approximately $800 to $2,000 due to the complex and labor-intensive processes of layering, molding, and curing carbon fiber, while steel bike frames typically cost between $300 and $500, benefiting from more straightforward and established manufacturing methods such as welding and machining.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel for bikes

Carbon fiber versus steel for bikes shows that carbon fiber offers superior strength-to-weight ratio and stiffness, with tensile strengths up to 6,000 MPa and a density of 1.6 g/cm³, making it ideal for lightweight, high-performance bikes, while steel, with tensile strengths ranging from 400 to 1,200 MPa and a density of 7.85 g/cm³, provides excellent durability, impact resistance, and a more comfortable ride at a lower cost.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel mountain bikes

Carbon fiber versus steel mountain bikes show that carbon fiber frames offer a higher strength-to-weight ratio and better stiffness, making them ideal for aggressive riding and quick maneuvers, while steel frames provide superior durability, impact resistance, and a more comfortable ride over rough terrain at a lower cost.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel gravel bikes

Carbon fiber versus steel gravel bikes shows that carbon fiber frames offer a higher strength-to-weight ratio and better vibration dampening, making them ideal for performance and comfort on mixed terrains, while steel frames provide excellent durability, impact resistance, and a smoother ride over long distances at a more affordable cost.

Carbon fiber vs. Steel road bikes

Carbon fiber versus steel road bikes show that carbon fiber frames offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio and better stiffness, making them ideal for maximizing speed and performance, while steel frames provide exceptional durability, impact resistance, and a more comfortable ride over long distances.

Carbon fiber fork vs steel

Carbon fiber forks versus steel forks show that carbon fiber forks are significantly lighter and stiffer, with a density of 1.6 g/cm³ and better vibration dampening, making them ideal for high-performance and smooth rides, while steel forks, with a density of 7.85 g/cm³, offer greater durability and impact resistance, making them more suitable for rugged and long-term use.

Carbon fiber frame vs steel

Carbon fiber frames versus steel frames show that carbon fiber frames are significantly lighter and stiffer while steel frames offer superior durability, impact resistance, and a more comfortable ride at a lower cost.

Carbon fiber handlebars vs steel

Carbon fiber handlebars versus steel handlebars show that carbon fiber handlebars are significantly lighter and provide better vibration dampening for a smoother ride, making them ideal for high-performance cycling, while steel handlebars offer greater durability and impact resistance, making them more suitable for rugged use and long-term reliability.

Carbon fiber seatpost vs steel

Carbon fiber seat posts versus steel seat posts show that carbon fiber seatposts are significantly lighter and provide better vibration dampening for increased comfort, making them ideal for high-performance and long-distance cycling, while steel seatposts offer greater durability and impact resistance, making them more suitable for rugged and heavy-duty use.

Carbon fiber tube vs steel tube

Carbon fiber tubes versus steel tubes show that carbon fiber tubes are significantly lighter and stiffer, providing superior strength-to-weight ratio and vibration dampening, making them ideal for high-performance applications, while steel tubes offer greater durability, impact resistance, and ease of welding, making them more suitable for heavy-duty and long-term use.

Carbon fiber wheels vs steel

Carbon fiber wheels versus steel wheels show that carbon fiber wheels are significantly lighter and provide better aerodynamics and responsiveness, making them ideal for high-performance cycling, while steel wheels offer greater durability, impact resistance, and affordability, making them more suitable for rugged and long-term use.