Multiaxial Carbon Fabric
Carbon fabrics are non-woven textile structures, where the fibers are continuous and lie parallel to each other, held in place by stitching or thermofixation. They are used in fiber-reinforced composites such as CFRP and GFRP, providing maximum stability and load-bearing capacity. Unlike woven fabrics, carbon fibers in these materials are aligned in one or multiple axes – unidirectional, bidirectional, triaxial, or quadraxial. This optimized fiber orientation ensures efficient load transfer and enhanced mechanical properties. Carbon fabrics are essential in lightweight construction, particularly in aerospace, motorsports, and industrial applications, where they enable high-strength, yet lightweight composite components.
Carbon fabrics – High-performance reinforcement fibers for lightweight construction
What are carbon fabrics and how are they used?
Carbon fabrics are used wherever high mechanical loads need to be combined with minimal weight. They are found in structural components that must withstand extreme tensile and compressive forces, such as load-bearing structures in vehicles, aircraft, and sports equipment. By precisely orienting the fibers, components can be optimized for specific stress scenarios, leading to material savings and enhanced performance. In aerospace, motorsports, and industrial manufacturing, carbon fabrics play a crucial role in the production of high-performance components.
What are the characteristics of carbon fabrics?
Carbon fabrics consist of continuous reinforcement fibers that are held in place without binding through a matrix. They allow for a precise alignment of carbon fibers along the primary load directions, resulting in high specific strength and stiffness. Compared to traditional woven fabrics, where fibers cross over each other, carbon fabrics enable more efficient load transfer and reduce fiber waviness. Various types of carbon fabrics exist with different surface weights and fiber orientations, each designed for specific load scenarios. This allows components to be tailored to mechanical demands while optimizing material efficiency.
What are the advantages of carbon fabrics over woven fabrics?
Thanks to their straight fiber arrangement without crimping, maximum strength is achieved with minimal weight. Unidirectional carbon fabrics are ideal for highly stressed components, while bidiagonal, bidirectional, triaxial, and quadraxial variants offer balanced stability in multiple directions. Compared to glass fiber fabrics (GFRP), carbon fabrics exhibit higher stiffness and strength while maintaining a lower density. This makes them ideal for applications in racing, aerospace, and mechanical engineering, where maximum performance is required. Many industries enhance their competitiveness by leveraging the advantages of multiaxial fabrics.
Where are carbon fabrics used?
Carbon fabrics are essential in modern lightweight construction and are used in various high-performance sectors. In aerospace, they are utilized in wing structures and structural components. In motorsports and the automotive industry, they improve the performance of bodywork and chassis components. Additionally, in mechanical engineering, medical technology, and boat or yacht construction, they provide highly durable yet lightweight structures. Our online shop for reinforcement fibers offers a wide selection of carbon fabrics, including unidirectional, bidiagonal, bidirectional, triaxial, and quadraxial variants, tailored for diverse composite applications.