Carbon fiber and metal alloys are both made by combining two or more materials, although they are not considered the same type of material. Alloys are produced when a metal is combined with another metal or non-metal element. Carbon fiber is not a metallic material and is not considered an alloy when combined with plastic.

Steel is known for its strength and is used in construction and other commercial applications. The strongest carbon fiber is 10 times stronger than steel. However, this does not mean that carbon fiber is always the preferred material choice. See our article "Carbon Fiber Is Stronger Than Steel" for more information on how carbon fiber compares to steel and when it might be a better choice.