Hydraulic Press vs Carbon Fiber | How Strong Is It Really?

追加: 2026-05-31

[00:00:02]Today, with the help of a hydraulic press, we will test the strength of carbon fiber, also known as carbon.

[00:00:09]Carbon fiber is a composite material made of carbon fiber and epoxy resin. I managed to get hold of such a massive chunk of carbon fiber.

[00:00:19]Previously, we tested the strength of small wooden cubes. For example, an oak cube began to deform under a load of about 4 tons.

[00:00:34]And the strongest type of wood, ironwood, began to deform under a load of more than 5 tons.

[00:00:56]A cube made of MDF, which is essentially also a composite material based on wood, withstood a load of more than 10 tons.

[00:01:36]We want not just to crush a piece of carbon plastic with a press, but also to compare it to other composite materials and those same wooden cubes, which were 3 by 3 by 3 cm in size. Of course, to cut a cube from this piece of carbon plastic, the most optimal tool would be a band saw machine, but lacking one, we will have to use a hacksaw for metal.

[00:02:03]After some time, we managed to get two identical cubes with a side of 3 cm.

[00:02:08]Carbon fiber will have different properties depending on the direction of the fibers, just like wood. So, we will apply a load along the fibers on one cube and across the fibers on the other.

[00:02:22]So, the first cube along the fibers.

[00:03:09]Not bad. Honestly, I didn't expect it to withstand a load of 20 tons.

[00:03:17]The thing is, our load cell, which measures the load, is rated for 20 tons.

[00:03:22]And if this load is significantly exceeded, it will most likely fail.

[00:03:25]Therefore, we will continue the test without the load cell, relying on the readings of the standard pressure gauge of the hydraulic system. A small crack appeared on the cube. She sat on >> The carbon fiber cube crumbled under a load of 60 tons.

[00:04:17]This is an excellent result. It withstood a load 10 times greater than a cube of the same size made from the hardest wood, ironwood. You can notice that in some places the carbon layers have delaminated and lost their connection. Now, let's see what load this cube can withstand across the fibers. In theory, it should withstand an even greater load.

[00:05:10]It's hard to believe. It withstood 100 tons, the maximum the maximum load this hydraulic press can develop. The cube sustained practically no damage, just small dents on the side in contact with the press parts.

[00:05:26]Carbon fiber is a very promising material. Thanks to its mechanical properties, it is already replacing metal.

[00:05:36]It's a pity that I don't have an aluminum cube of the same size right now, but I can confidently say that under a 100-ton load it would be severely deformed.

[00:05:47]This is how, for example, a cube made of aluminum with a 1 cm edge deformed, and this is how a cube made of titanium did.

[00:05:59]For comparison, let's check what load a sample made from buffalo horn can withstand. [music] In theory, horn is the strongest organic material.

[00:06:12]It doesn't cut very quickly, either.

[00:06:21]At first, I wanted to manage with just a hacksaw for metal, but then I had to use a jigsaw. The cuts of a stone out not very even.

[00:06:27]>> [music] >> Only pieces of a side. No.

[00:06:34]Uh therefore, I adjusted it to the necessary size using a grinding machine.

[00:06:39]You can't imagine the stench in the room during its mechanical processing. Such a sharp smell of dentistry, like burned tooth or burned bone.

[00:07:44]>> The horn gave in under a load of 7 and 1/2 tons. This is also a very good result. It's 1 and 1/2 times more than iron wood, but of course, it's far from carbon fiber. By the way, suggest in the comments which material cube would be interesting to test on the press.