Materials · 1958

Carbon fiber

Carbonized fibers stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight.

Roger Bacon grew high-performance graphite whiskers in 1958. Akio Shindo developed PAN-based fiber in Japan in 1959, with later improvements at Britain's Royal Aircraft Establishment. Carbon fiber composites now make aircraft, wind blades and race cars.

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Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 2

Synthetic plastic (Bakelite) 1907
Incandescent light bulb 1879

What it led to 1

Composite airliner (787) 2011