tinfoil hat? screw that! CARBON FIBER baby!

[arklan]

so the last few months i've been taking a class on composites - fiberglass, carbon fiber, that sort of thing - to make a career change. last night i finished my final project, thought i'd share it with you guys. i made a bowler (aka derby) hat out of carbon fiber. screw you tinfoil!

[Lethn]

Nice, you could have a whole new market of safety gear there too

lol! Carbon fiber cowboy hats for bull and horse riders

[Peter Lambert]

The place I work is currently developing a process that will produce carbon fibers at (estimated) 50% less cost than current processes (and it looks like it will result in better properties as well). I am excited to see what will be made with carbon fibers as they get cheaper. I would love to have a carbon fiber bike.

[Peter Lambert]

The place I work is currently developing a process that will produce carbon fibers at (estimated) 50% less cost than current processes (and it looks like it will result in better properties as well). I am excited to see what will be made with carbon fibers as they get cheaper. I would love to have a carbon fiber bike.

Guessing you mean bicycle and mot motorcycle. There's probably some really cool tricks you could do to absorb and re-apply pulse loads with that, something like the racing prosthetic legs that get quicker times than able bodied runners.

Yeah, I was thinking bicycle. But it would be really cool to make a motorcycle with a carbon fiber frame and a small OPOC diesel engine (very high power to weight ratio and also very efficient), that would be light and zippy.

[arklan]

yea, carbon fiber's amazing stuff, but the cost is painful. materials for this hat alone are probably over 300 or so.

[arklan]

ouuuch! Thought the autoclave was the expensive bit and wasn't needed for lower strength items, the 300 is for the fiber and resin?

75 or so a yard for the carbon used, and it's four layers, so yea. and didn't use an autoclave or any heat. class shop lacks them. an epoxy resin, and a vacuum bag for pressure, though.

[Herodes]

ouuuch! Thought the autoclave was the expensive bit and wasn't needed for lower strength items, the 300 is for the fiber and resin?

75 or so a yard for the carbon used, and it's four layers, so yea. and didn't use an autoclave or any heat. class shop lacks them. an epoxy resin, and a vacuum bag for pressure, though.

 Can imagine selling carbon suits to marathoners in the future can become a profitable business.

Protect yourself from terrorist attacks, get your carbon suit today!

[Peter Lambert]

So how light is that hat?

[arklan]

So how light is that hat?

haven't got anything remotely accurate to weigh it with un fortunately, but in my opinion it's no heavier then a comparable leather hat. ...not that i have one around to compare...

[Coinbuck @ BTCLot]

Hipster safety hat has became a reality !! 

[Peter Lambert]

Just to nitpick a bit, this will not be as protective against electromagnetic waves as a tinfoil hat. Maybe you could line the inside with a layer of tinfoil?

[wtfvanity]

ouuuch! Thought the autoclave was the expensive bit and wasn't needed for lower strength items, the 300 is for the fiber and resin?

75 or so a yard for the carbon used, and it's four layers, so yea. and didn't use an autoclave or any heat. class shop lacks them. an epoxy resin, and a vacuum bag for pressure, though.

 Can imagine selling carbon suits to marathoners in the future can become a profitable business.

Protect yourself from terrorist attacks, get your carbon suit today!

I think Kevlar is used for projectile protection...

[Peter Lambert]

Can imagine selling carbon suits to marathoners in the future can become a profitable business.

Protect yourself from terrorist attacks, get your carbon suit today!

I think Kevlar is used for projectile protection...

Are you saying that since this is not kevlar it will not be as good for protection, or are you saying that this will protect against projectiles not explosions, or are you agreeing with the previous statement? What are you saying??? Finish your damn sentence!

[JimmiesForBitcoins]

That hat looks awesome. It makes me want a carbon fiber suit to go with it.

[wtfvanity]

Can imagine selling carbon suits to marathoners in the future can become a profitable business.

Protect yourself from terrorist attacks, get your carbon suit today!

I think Kevlar is used for projectile protection...

Are you saying that since this is not kevlar it will not be as good for protection, or are you saying that this will protect against projectiles not explosions, or are you agreeing with the previous statement? What are you saying??? Finish your damn sentence!

I would consider an explosion throwing metal junks necessary of projectile protection. And would say that a layer or two of carbon fiber isn't going to do shit in an explosion. In a II or IIIa rated vest, you have dozens of layers of kevlar.

[arklan]

the problem with a carbon fiber suit (or jacket or anything else intended to flex like cloth) is that, without the resin, the carbon fibers themselves are very brittle and easily cut. also, they tend to unravel like mad. so, any clothing made from carbon fiber would be more like plates of the stuff sewn together or something.

could go with something akin to plate armor, or scale mail though.

[myrkul]

the problem with a carbon fiber suit (or jacket or anything else intended to flex like cloth) is that, without the resin, the carbon fibers themselves are very brittle and easily cut. also, they tend to unravel like mad. so, any clothing made from carbon fiber would be more like plates of the stuff sewn together or something.

could go with something akin to plate armor, or scale mail though.

Most expensive ren-faire costume ever.