Carbon Fiber Tanks

[SlvrDragon50]

I was wondering why carbon fiber tanks are not made. They would allow for 4500 PSI( inferred through paintball) and it would be significantly lighter which could be good or bad, I suppose. The only other major con I see is cost, but for that much of an increase in PSI, it seems worth it.

[mchain]

this thread seems to have some good info
Carbon Fiber?

[navyhmc]

The cost is one item, the bouyancy is another. they are 12-15 lbs light full salt/fresh water depending. Currently 90% of all CF tanks are used in fire services so are threaded differently than scuba tanks and have a different valve on them-think of it as a reverse DIN. Adapters could be made, but given the cost, the valve, floating, et. al. I'll stick with my LP121.

[jimmysdevoted]

Airhog: About Carbon Fiber Tanks
Carbon Fiber Tank

they run about 400 bucks. and need a weight foot so they don't float when emptying.

j

[SlvrDragon50]

So price isn't really that bad. It seems like a good alternative to a rebreather system( in terms of just extending down time)

Ah welL, thanks!

[crgjpg]

I don't know if the technology is the same for the tanks and bicycles. I have seen a carbon fiber bicycle have the fibers come apart on the inside of the frame without knowing it until it broke in half. I was told that the frame probably was probably hit hard on the outside which caused the fibers to unspiral on the inside of the frame. The owner of the bike remembered hitting the frame about 1 week earlier. Does anyone know if the technology is different?

[SlvrDragon50]

same tech

I know in paintball it is good etiquette to get a cover. It had to have been a bad hit though to cause a fiber to unravel.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

same tech

I know in paintball it is good etiquette to get a cover. It had to have been a bad hit though to cause a fiber to unravel.

Not really. It depends on how you hit it. Carbon fiber tanks are incredibly strong, but incredibly fragile at the same time. You can smack one in the side with a hammer and do no damage. But scrape one across some sharp rocks, and the epoxy layer can be chipped down to the fibers in no time, condemning the tank immediately.

The fibers are very strong when welded together by the epoxy, but it's not actually that difficult to damage the epoxy right down to the fiber. Steel and Aluminum tanks tend to have a longer lifespan as a result. Carbon fiber tanks currently have a max lifespan of 15 years. Steel tanks have no fixed limit to their lifespan. There are welding tanks from the late-1800's that are still in use and still passing hydro!

[SlvrDragon50]

If the epoxy isdamaged, the tank can be sent to any manufacturer and they will repair it.

I suppose its better to get a steel fornow anyways.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by SlvrDragon50

If the epoxy isdamaged, the tank can be sent to any manufacturer and they will repair it.

I suppose its better to get a steel fornow anyways.

There are very specific rules governing what is fixable and what instantly condemns the tank.