Why is carbon fiber often used as a stick to hit objects in sporting goods

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Things like Badminton rackets, Tennis rackets, golf clubs, softball bats and hockey sticks. I know its light and all but what are the other reasons why is it used as a stick to hit objects? Can someone give me a detailed answer? Edit: Is tensile strength an important factor to making these sticks if so why?

In: Engineering

28 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Carbon Fiber not really economical compared to other materials that have *just slightly worse* performance/physical characteristics, which limits its use in sports.

What we all commonly call “Fiberglass” is a composite of glass fibers and a plastic resin. What we commonly call “Carbon Fiber” is a composite of carbon fibers and a plastic resin. Fibers made of carbon are more expensive than glass fibers…

If you make two rackets, one of fiberglass and one of carbon fiber, you’ll have a great cheap racket and a really great expensive racket. The cheap one is still pretty darn good, but it will weigh a tad more (silicon in glass weighs more than carbon).

That’s mostly what holds-back the proliferation of carbon fiber. As carbon fiber technologies mature their cost will continue to go down and their use will further expand.

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