Consider the following statements:
- 1.Carbon fibres are used in the manufacture of components used in automobiles and aircrafts.
- 2.Carbon fibres once used cannot be recycled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. Carbon fibre is a light, strong material used in vehicle bodies and in aircraft parts, and it can be recovered from used composites and reused, so it is not a one-time material.
- ✓ 1. Carbon-fibre composites go into vehicle chassis, body panels and doors, and into aircraft fairings, fuselages and floor panels. Their strength for low weight is the reason.
- ✗ 2. Carbon fibre can be recycled. Recycled fibre is already used in new products and needs far less energy than making virgin fibre, which is highly energy intensive.
Remember · Carbon fibre is strong and light, used in cars and aircraft, and is recyclable: recovered fibre is reused in new composites.
Sources
- Bandwidth Study on Energy Use and Potential Energy Saving Opportunities in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites (US Department of Energy) ↗ “1) Automotive lightweighting (e.g., vehicle chassis, body, doors); 2) Compressed gas storage (e.g., hydrogen fuel tanks for electric vehicles); 3) Wind turbines (e.g., lighter and longer turbine blades); and 4) Aerospace (e.g., aircraft fairings, fuselages, floor panels). … Use of recycled carbon fiber content in products reduces energy requirements, as production of virgin carbon fibers is highly energy intensive.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·