What is carbon fibre?

Carbon Fibre is a synthetic thread that is heated to such a degree that total carbonisation takes place. The very fine threads in carbon fibre are either left as long fibres along the roll length (known as uni directional fibre) with good strength in that axis, or they are woven together to form fabric cloth giving multi directional strength with the classic woven appearance most people associate with carbon fibre parts. 

Carbon fibre pattern

There are many woven styles of cloth available including... plain, twill and satin weaves and more.

The Carbon Fibre is then left dry to be used in resin infusion processes or wet laminating, or it is also impregnated with an epoxy resin to make prepreg. 

Both these processes rely on the resin curing either via a catalyst or oven / autoclave heat cured. The cured resin is formed into a mould tool to give the finished part its moulded shape, stiffness and rigidity.

Carbon Fibre's weight and strength properties are the main reasons it is increasings being used in aerospace, automotice, sports equipment, motorsport and marine applications.