Carbon fiber, also known as CF or graphite fiber, is an incredibly strong and lightweight material composed primarily of carbon atoms. Its structure consists of graphite crystals that are aligned in a parallel arrangement. Compared to steel, carbon fiber is significantly lighter while being about five times stronger.
The designations T300, T700, and T800 are used to classify different types of carbon fiber based on their tensile strength. The letter "T" represents the tensile strength of the carbon fiber tow. T300, for example, has a tensile strength of approximately 3,000 MPa and a modulus of around 230 GPa. T700 carbon fiber is considered a higher-performance grade with a tensile strength surpassing 4,500 MPa and a similar modulus. T800, on the other hand, is even stronger than T700, exhibiting a tensile strength exceeding 5,500 MPa.
When it comes to cost, T700 carbon fiber is about 40% more expensive than T300, while T800 is 30%-40% more expensive than T700. This price difference is mainly due to variations in the raw material cost and production and processing cost between the different grades. As a result, the final price of T700 and T800 carbon fiber is significantly higher than that of T300.
