In most areas where weight reduction is crucial, carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRPs) are an excellent choice. Carbon fiber, besides its structural role, can be applied for several secondary functions as well, based on its electrical properties; for example, it can be used for crosslinking, welding, as a sensor and it can also facilitate self-healing. By merging these functions, a multifunctional part or structure can be created. In this article, we review multifunctional application examples of reinforcing carbon fiber. The focus is on utilization: which additional function and what physical layout can be used with CFRP. In a summarizing table (Table 1), we classified the presented examples according to their secondary function, the material used and the physical layout. With the combination of different functions, important materials can be created for the energy and transportation industry, for autonomous vehicles and for Industry 4.0.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.