Carbon fiber is, exactly the same as what it sounds, fiber made of carbon. However, these fibers are only the base. Graphite sheet carbon fiber is commonly a material consisting of very thin filaments of carbon atoms. When bound together with plastic polymer resin by heat, pressure or in a vacuum a composite material is formed which is both strong and lightweight.

Just as cloth, beaver dams and a rattan chair, the strength of carbon fiber lies in the weave. The more complex the weave, the more durable the composite will be. It is helpful to imagine a wire screen that is interwoven with another screen at an angle, and another at a slightly different angle, and so on, with each wire in each screen made of carbon graphite fiber strands. Imagine this mesh of screens drenched in liquid plastic, and then pressed or heated until the material fuses together. The angle of the weave, as well as the resin used with the fiber, will determine the strength of the overall composite. The resin is most commonly epoxy, but can also be thermoplastic, polyurethane, vinyl ester, or polyester.

Alternatively, a mold may be cast and the flexible graphite carbon fibers applied over it. The carbon fiber composite is then allowed to cure, often by a vacuum process. By this method, the mold is used to achieve the desired shape. This technique is preferred for uncomplicated forms that are needed on demand.

Carbon fiber material has a wide range of applications, as it can be formed at various densities in limitless shapes and sizes. Carbon fiber is often shaped into tubing, fabric, and cloth, and can be custom-formed into any number of composite parts and pieces. Familiar products made of carbon fiber include high-end automobile components, bicycle frames, fishing rods, shoe soles, baseball bats, protective cases for laptops and iPhones.