Carbon fiber cloth, also known as carbon fiber fabric, carbon cloth, or carbon fiber textile, is a composite material woven from carbon fiber filaments. With its exceptional properties such as lightweight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity, it has found widespread applications in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, sports equipment, building reinforcement, and numerous other fields. This article delves into the different types of carbon fiber cloth and their applications.

Types of Carbon Fiber Cloth

Classified by Carbon Fiber Precursor

1. PAN-Based Carbon Fiber Cloth: Representing over 90% of the market share, PAN (polyacrylonitrile)-based carbon fiber cloth is renowned for its superior mechanical properties and high purity, making it ubiquitous across various industries.

2. Viscose-Based Carbon Fiber Cloth: Although occupying a smaller market segment, viscose-based carbon fiber cloth also finds niche applications. Its production process differs slightly from PAN-based carbon fiber cloth, utilizing viscose fibers as the raw material.

3. Pitch-Based Carbon Fiber Cloth: Pitch-based carbon fiber cloth is another type derived from a unique process that employs pitch as the starting material.

Classified by Carbon Fiber Specification

Carbon fiber cloth can be categorized based on the specifications of the carbon fiber filaments, including:

• 1K Carbon Fiber Cloth
• 3K Carbon Fiber Cloth
• 6K Carbon Fiber Cloth
• 12K Carbon Fiber Cloth
• 24K and Above Large-Tow Carbon Fiber Cloth

These types differ in the number and diameter of fibers, influencing their mechanical properties and suitability for specific applications. For instance, 12K carbon fiber cloth is commonly used in carbon fiber reinforcement products, such as reinforcement fabrics for building structures.

Classified by Carbonization Degree

Based on the degree of carbonization, carbon fiber cloth can be divided into:

• Graphitized Carbon Fiber Cloth: Capable of enduring temperatures up to 2000-3000°C, it exhibits exceptional thermal stability and heat resistance.
• Regular Carbon Fiber Cloth: Typically withstands temperatures around 1000°C, suitable for most industrial applications.
• Pre-Oxidized Carbon Fiber Cloth: Able to handle temperatures between 200-300°C, it possesses moderate thermal stability but falls short of graphitized carbon fiber cloth in heat resistance.

Classified by Weaving Method

Carbon fiber cloth can be woven in various ways, including:

• Woven Carbon Fiber Cloth: Such as plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, and unidirectional cloth, offering structural stability and mechanical strength.
• Knitted Carbon Fiber Cloth: Including warp-knitted, weft-knitted, circular-knitted (sleeving), and flat-knitted (ribbed) fabrics, offering higher flexibility and adaptability.
• Braided Carbon Fiber Cloth: Including sleeves, packing, braided tapes, 2D fabrics, 3D fabrics, and spatial braided fabrics, suitable for reinforcing complex shapes and structures.
• Pre-Impregnated Carbon Fiber Cloth (Prepreg): Including dry prepreg, wet prepreg, and unidirectional prepreg, offering better adhesion and ease of application.
• Non-Woven Carbon Fiber Cloth (Carbon Felt): Such as chopped strand mat, continuous mat, surface veil, needle-punched mat, and stitched mat, offering a certain degree of flexibility and strength.

Applications of Carbon Fiber Cloth

Aerospace Industry

In aerospace, carbon fiber cloth is extensively used in aircraft fuselages, wings, engine casings, and missile components. Its lightweight and high-strength properties significantly reduce the weight of aircraft, enhancing flight performance. For instance, carbon fiber cloth in fuselage structures improves fuel efficiency and range.

Automotive Industry

In the automotive sector, carbon fiber cloth is employed in bodywork, chassis, and components. It lightens vehicle weight, enhancing fuel efficiency and safety. With the rise of electric vehicles, the application prospects for carbon fiber cloth in the automotive industry are even broader.

Construction Industry

In construction, carbon fiber cloth is primarily used for reinforcing and repairing bridges, buildings, and other structures. When combined with adhesive resins, carbon fiber cloth reinforcement technology significantly improves the load-bearing capacity and seismic resistance of structures. This technology is widely applied to reinforce concrete structures such as beams, columns, slabs, and tunnels.

Sports Equipment

Carbon fiber cloth is also prevalent in sports equipment, including fishing rods, baseball bats, ski poles, and badminton rackets. Its lightweight and high-strength characteristics make these sports equipment lighter, more durable, and enhance performance.

Other Fields

Furthermore, carbon fiber cloth finds applications in machinery, firefighting, medical devices, and more. In machinery, it enhances performance and longevity; in firefighting, it's used in personal protective equipment like fire suits; in medical devices, it contributes to lightweight and durable surgical instruments and rehabilitation equipment.

Conclusion

As a lightweight, high-strength, corrosion-resistant, and electrically conductive composite material, carbon fiber cloth has diverse applications across various industries. With advancements in materials science and technological innovation, the performance and application scope of carbon fiber cloth will continue to expand. In the future, carbon fiber cloth will play an increasingly important role in driving technological progress and industrial upgrading.