Carbon – or carbon fibre in this case – is known as graphite fibre (graphite giving it the dark colour). The material consists of extremely thin fibres and is composed of mostly carbon atoms.

The atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are aligned along the fibre; this alignment gives the material it’s strength. Several thousand of these strands are twisted together to form a yarn which is then woven into various patterns to form different weaves, for example, 2 x 2 twill, plain weave or fishscale.

These sections of woven yarn can then be used with UV resistant epoxy, or polyester resin, to form laminates for aesthetic purposes or -with the correct equipment and methods – to form parts from moulds.