Why is carbon black?

[spartacus]

Is carbon naturally black, or can it be made 'raw' in other colors?

[bobswire]

http://www.google.com/images?q=Colored+carbon+fiber&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=A3DRTLDoNYm2sAPbq_jGCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQsAQwAA&biw=1186&bih=600

Red carbon fiber
http://www.autotoysusa.com/superiordash/material/carbon/Red-Carbon-Fiber.html

http://i52.tinypic.com/n36ij8.jpg

Edited out the Colnago since it was a red overcoat not red Fiber.

[Steve in SLO]

Somehow that reminds me of Dr Seuss.

[rice rocket]

That's carbon woven with kevlar (or some other fiber).

[spacemen3]

Whether or not these were actual colored carbon, I don't know, but I remember the Fondriest Luxter came in red (http://www.o-vest.com/img/goods/FONDRIEST_LUXTER.jpg), blue, and silver (http://www.camposlorca.com/cuadro-fondriest-luxter-2007-pi-222.html?image=0) carbon. And Bianchi had the Luna for awhile.

http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/images/Interbike%20Shows/Interbike03/page_2/DSCN0363.JPG

[pitcrew]

Also referred too as crabon fiber on your local CL...

[K Bedford]

It's burnt plastic. The base material is polymer similar to to the material used in carpeting that is subjected to a series of high temp baking processes that burn away the non carbon materials.
Eventually what you're left with is the relatively pure form of carbon.
The modulus of the carbon is determined by how many and the intensities of these processes........the more burning, the more impurities you remove resulting in a purer form of carbon (higher modulus, more expensive).

[Louis]

The modulus of the carbon is determined by how many and the intensities of these processes........the more burning, the more impurities you remove resulting in a purer form of carbon (higher modulus, more expensive).

Until you get to the Diamond Engagement Ring form, which is THE most expensive form of carbon known to man.

[mschol17]

Carbon is black because it absorbs the majority of visible light that falls on it.

Things made of mostly carbon:
graphite
coal
charcoal


all black.

[rice rocket]

Whether or not these were actual colored carbon, I don't know, but I remember the Fondriest Luxter came in red (http://www.o-vest.com/img/goods/FONDRIEST_LUXTER.jpg), blue, and silver (http://www.camposlorca.com/cuadro-fondriest-luxter-2007-pi-222.html?image=0) carbon. And Bianchi had the Luna for awhile.

Yeah, that's a layer of fiberglass with a dye.

[bobswire]

Yeah, that's a layer of fiberglass with a dye.

Darn , there goes my candy apple red carbon bike frame.

I figured you could get just about any color and thought it was more of an expense thing.

[oliver1850]

.

[RADaines]

It's out of fashion now, but I really liked the tinted clearcoat finishes over bare carbon, especially red.

Back in 2005, I looked at an Ottrott frame that had the clearcoat dyed a burgundy red color. This frame was absolutely beautiful and quite memorable. Is this no longer an option? I have seen some Seven's recently that had dyed clearcoats.

[twhet]

Carbon is black because it absorbs the majority of visible light that falls on it.

Things made of mostly carbon:
graphite
coal
charcoal


all black.

Carbon fiber is a composite material. I.E. A 60% resin and 40% small metal fibers. The metals that are used are usually a dark grey or black... and the resin is probably going to be clear.

Wikipedia is not the best source but check out the references, I'm sure they'll explain something. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_material

[AndrewS]

Carbon fiber is a composite material. I.E. A 60% resin and 40% small metal fibers. The metals that are used are usually a dark grey or black... and the resin is probably going to be clear.

Wikipedia is not the best source but check out the references, I'm sure they'll explain something. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_material
Last I checked, "carbon" was not on the metal side of the periodic table.

A "composite" can be anything - the old Specialized Metal Matrix Composite was bits of metal oxide (ceramic) forged into aluminum. Honeycombs of alumium and glue, fiberglass and resin, etc. But carbon fiber implies no more than something akin to graphite threads, which can then be wound or woven and fixed with a chemical substrate.

[natextr]

Kbedford has the correct answer. Because it is "burnt" or refined a number of times at very high heat, carbon-fiber is black (think of that english muffin that you left in the toaster too long). The colors that you might see woven into carbon are usually a different material (kevlar and Fiberglass are two popular options).

Serotta still offers a "tinted" finish in red or blue. Basically this is a dyed clearcoat and if you were to scratch the finish off, the material underneath would be black.

And there is no metal in carbon-fiber.