What makes it possible for carbon fiber to harden when combined with resin glue?

Question

How does it work exactly?

Answer 1

Epoxies typically do not exhibit high tensile or impact strength. By marrying the epoxy with a carbon fiber (or glass fiber), the tensile properties of the fibers may be exploited, using the epoxy part of the matrix to provide the compressive strength that the fiber alone would lack (one cannot push a rope, can they?).

The epoxy cures through a chemical reaction. The carbon fibers are simply caught up in the adhesive.

Custom properties can be generated by the direction that the fibers are laid prior to the application of the epoxy. This makes composites "anisotropic" (varying properties). This can be handy when trying to optimize the weight of something, which is why composites are so widely used in aircraft these days.

Answer 2

put a water