In the late 1800’s, a man was looking for a material with the ability to withstand intense heat. He took filaments of bamboo and baked them at a very high temperature in a controlled atmosphere. Through this process, called pyrolysis, the bamboo filaments became fire resistant and able to withstand extreme heat. The man’s name was Thomas Edison, and he was searching for the filament needed to create the incandescent lightbulb.Fast forward 120 years or so, and chances are you own something that utilizes nearly the same technology: a tennis racket, a bicycle, or for the younger crowd, a car hood or spoiler. I am talking about carbon fiber.