Carbon fiber has emerged as a high-performance material characterized by having over 90% carbon content. Produced through the controlled decomposition of organic fibers at high temperatures, it possesses a unique backbone structure that offers the inherent strength of carbon while retaining the workability of textile fibers. Today, it stands as an indispensable strategic material for global economic development.
1. Classification by Raw Material Systems
The production of carbon fiber begins with different precursors. Currently, the industry categorizes these into three primary systems:
- Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based: This is the predominant variety, accounting for over 90% of global production due to its superior structural and functional characteristics.
- Pitch-based and Viscose-based: These variants have relatively limited applications and lower production volumes compared to PAN-based fibers.
2. Small-Tow vs. Large-Tow Carbon Fiber
A critical factor in choosing the right material is the "tow quantity," which refers to the number of filaments in a single bundle.
High-Tech Precision: Small-Tow Carbon Fiber
Small-tow carbon fibers typically refer to those with quantities below 24K (such as 1K, 3K, 6K, 12K, and 24K). These fibers are renowned for their outstanding mechanical properties, featuring tensile strengths between 3500 to 7000 MPa and moduli ranging from 230 to 680 GPa.
Because of their superior performance, they are the primary choice for high-tech sectors including:
- Aerospace and Defense: Aircraft, missiles, rockets, and satellites.
- Sports and Leisure: High-end fishing tackle, golf clubs, and tennis rackets.
Industrial Efficiency: Large-Tow Carbon Fiber
Large-tow carbon fibers denote tow counts exceeding 48K, such as 48K, 60K, and 80K variants. While they offer slightly lower performance with tensile strengths of 3500–5000 MPa, their primary advantage is cost-effectiveness.
Under identical manufacturing conditions, large-tow fibers substantially increase production capacity and can reduce composite fabrication costs by over 30%. They are extensively used in:
- Automotive and Wind Energy: Wind turbine blades and vehicle manufacturing.
- Infrastructure: Civil engineering and transportation infrastructure.
3. Evaluating Performance: Tensile Strength and Modulus
To understand the quality of carbon fiber components, one must look at two critical indicators: Tensile Strength (the maximum stress before fracture) and Tensile Modulus (material stiffness during elastic deformation).
Market-available fibers are generally divided into two series:
- T-Series (High-Strength): The most widely used series, including grades like T300, T400, T700, T800, and T1100.
- M-Series (High-Modulus): Specialized fibers focusing on extreme stiffness.
4. Custom Solutions with RDS Composite
At RDS Composite, we understand that different projects require specific material properties. We provide high-quality carbon fiber products tailored to your exact requirements.
Our production process is carefully managed from raw material procurement through to final delivery, ensuring every component meets international standards. We are committed to providing reliable quality and timely service for all your advanced material needs.