According to the American Chemical Society, in 1879, Thomas Edison invented the first incandescent light bulb. It used electricity to heat a thin strip of material, called a filament, until it glowed. Edison may also have created the first commercial carbon fiber. Early filaments, were made from bamboo slivers which were formed into the proper size and shape then baked them at high temperatures. Since bamboo consists mostly of cellulose, a natural linear polymer made of repeating units of glucose, the filament was "carbonized," when heated. It became a true carbon copy of the starting material - an all-carbon fiber with the same exact shape. Tungsten wire soon displaced these carbon filaments, but they were still used on U.S. Navy ships as late as 1960 because they withstood ship vibrations better than tungsten. Bamboo carbon fiber, called Black Gold or Black Diamond by those in the industry, is resistant to ultra violet rays and possesses anti-odor properties. It also adjusts well to both humidity and dryness. A rich grey, with a matte finish but a deep luster, this extremely fine fiber produces a stunning, unique and instantly recognizable yarn. A delight to spin, Black Diamond is one of the newest fibers on the handspinning market, sure to be a show-stopper and conversation piece. Very fine and soft with some elasticity, Black Diamond is an exciting fiber everyone wants to try!
This listing is for a ½ lb. bag.
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NOTE:
Depending on stock levels, some fibers or yarns may need to be special-ordered, which generally takes no longer than a regular Knitgrrl Studio mail order. We will let you know if we need to order additional fiber for you or if we need to ship part of your order separately. Thank you.
This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 28 July, 2009.
