Carbon fiber fabrics are utilized in applications where its high strength-to-weight ratio is of importance. In addition to its high strength-to-weight ratio, carbon fibers are thermally and electrically conductive. They have high tensile strength, low density, low weight, low thermal expansion and excellent fatigue resistance. Carbon fiber has the highest specific stiffness of any commercially available fiber and a very high strength in both compression and tension. The carbon fibers have a surface treatment applied to improve matrix bonding and a chemical sizing which serves to protect the fibers during conversion.