Experts predict the market for carbon fiber will be worth $2.3 billion in the next few years. That means more people are buying carbon fiber. Many of those people will put carbon fiber to work in aeronautical engineering.

There are many others looking for new applications. Some applications include objects you use every day.

What is carbon fiber used for in everyday life? You might be surprised to discover how many objects use this versatile material.

1. Sports Equipment Like Tennis Rackets and Bikes

Some of the most popular applications of carbon fiber have been in the sports world. This lightweight material is much easier for an athlete to use for long periods of time. It’s still strong, which means athletes can put it through its paces without risk of damage.

Carbon fiber bikes are now commonplace in cycling and triathlon, among other sports. They’re much lighter than an aluminum frame, allowing athletes to go faster and work harder for longer.

Tennis rackets are another common piece of sports equipment to make use of carbon fiber. It’s lightweight, which makes the racket easier for the player to wield. The durability ensures it won’t shatter when you decisively return a serve.

You can even find carbon fiber in running shoes! Nike has added carbon fiber plates to some of their shoes. It gives them extra spring and an even lighter profile.

Right now, some of these uses aren’t all that common, but carbon fiber is becoming much more popular.

2. Musical Instruments Like Guitars

Moving from the world of sports, you can also find applications for carbon fiber in music. One popular example is the carbon fiber guitar.

Guitars are made out of wood, but this makes them heavy and difficult to transport. It’s easy to see why musicians would favor the lighter carbon fiber version of the instrument. Given that carbon fiber guitars can replicate the acoustics of their wooden cousins, it makes sense to switch.

Carbon fiber may make guitars more affordable as well. Carbon fiber is synthetic, whereas wood is a natural material that involves a lengthy process to fashion into a guitar. Right now, the carbon fiber guitar remains a luxury item.

3. What Is Carbon Fiber Used for in Fashion?

Fashion might not be the first industry you think of when it comes to carbon fiber uses. The material is making itself at home here too.

Some of the popular uses for carbon fiber are in accessories. You may find carbon fiber rings for men. Watches are another popular application. They’re especially appealing thanks to their matte black finish.

These watches are also lightweight, so you won’t feel weighed down. They’re just as luxurious as a metal watch too and much more fashionable.

There’s even carbon fiber cloth, so you may see carbon fiber clothes coming your way in the future. They may be a great choice for lightweight sports clothing.

4. Car Parts Are Popular

You may be familiar with the use of carbon fiber to build plane parts or other aeronautical uses. It’s also used in some other, more familiar vehicles. Carbon fiber is often used in car parts.

Many car manufacturers have switched to plastic for many parts of their vehicles. Bumpers are the most common example. Since bumpers are often damaged and need to be replaced, it makes sense to use cheaper parts.

Using plastic also tends to decrease the weight of the vehicle. That, in turn, means car manufacturers can improve a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. It can even improve aerodynamics.

Carbon fiber driveshaft builds on that to make cars lighter, faster, and even more fuel-efficient. It’s one of the reasons you’ll see it used in motorsports. Aramid fiber is also becoming more popular since it’s just as strong and lightweight.

There’s sometimes confusion about whether carbon fiber or aramid is better. Learning about carbon fiber vs aramid vs Kevlar is key to understanding which material is best for what applications.

Carbon fiber is also durable, which makes it a better choice. Whether you’re hitting the race track with your vehicle or just trying to get back and forth to work, a carbon fiber vehicle makes a lot of sense.

5. Cases to Keep Electronics Safe

This last application of carbon fiber is one of the most common at this point in time. You can find carbon fiber used in all kinds of cases designed to protect electronics.

An example is a laptop case. A carbon fiber case goes around the exterior of your laptop, providing extra protection. If you happen to drop your laptop or need to put it in luggage, the carbon fiber case can absorb shocks and blows.

The same is true of phone cases. You want something that’s durable to protect your phone. A carbon fiber case is an excellent contender. Even if the case were to break, your phone would be completely safe.

Carbon fiber is also lightweight. That means adding a case to your phone won’t feel like putting extra bricks in your pocket. Better yet, carbon fiber does come in a wide variety of colors, and cases can even have textures embossed on them.

If you’re looking for a stylish phone case that will give you the best protection, then a carbon fiber case is a smart choice.

Keep Up with the Tech World

If you were asking, “What is carbon fiber used for?”, you can see it’s a versatile material with tons of applications. These five everyday uses only begin to scratch the surface of what carbon fiber can be used for.

It’s almost certain that as technology improves, there will be even more carbon fiber uses. The price of carbon fiber objects will also begin to drop.

Looking for more of the latest technology news and trends? Consider us your one-stop shop for news, how-tos, and reviews. With the best advice, you’ll be able to use all the latest tech to your advantage.