What does filament count mean?

Filament count is the number of individual filaments that are included in each tow. Tow is the thread that you see in woven fabric or spools of carbon fiber. Each tow is made up of thousands of individual filaments; the “k” represents 1000. For instance, a 3k carbon tow is made up of 3,000 individual carbon filaments. The higher the filament count, the thicker the material. Thicker material is harder to form around bends and compound curves, and the increased bending or “crimp” from thicker tows can reduce strength. Filament count choice should be determined by the engineering requirements.

Why choose unidirectional fabrics?

Unidirectional fabrics have all the fibers running in a single direction. The main advantage of unidirectional material is its ability to control strength and stiffness in a specific direction. Unidirectional material is also usually thinner which allows for more control over laminate thickness and also reduces the likelihood of trapping voids or air bubbles. The disadvantages include longer time to laminate parts due to thinner plies, increased susceptibility to cracks that rapidly extend the length of the fiber, difficulty laminating complex curves without wrinkles and lack of aesthetic appeal.

Why choose woven fabrics?

Woven fabrics can conform to compound curves and maintain fiber angles while looking better and having the traditional carbon fiber look that people expect. They are more durable, faster to build up a laminate, and offer automatic stiffness and strength in multiple directions. The disadvantages include limited ability to customize properties in a single direction, some loss of strength as the fiber bends or crimps, higher resin content and increased weight, all of which can affect the properties of the finished part.

What are the typical weave patterns?

The most common patterns are plain weave, 2x2 twill and spread tow/checkerboard. Plain weave is where each tow is woven over and under one at a time, creating a small checkerboard pattern. A 2x2 twill weave is over two then under two. However, adjacent strands are staggered to create a diagonal affect. 2x2 twill weave is what most people think of when they picture carbon fiber. Spread tow patterns are typically a plain weave pattern but spread each tow extra wide to create a thinner layer with less crimping.

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Dry Braided Carbon Fiber Sleeve - Biaxial +/-45° - Sold by the Yard

P/N: BR-C-GROUP

Starting from $4.11

Dry Braided Aramid Sleeve - Biaxial +/-45° - Sold by the Yard

P/N: BR-A-GROUP

Starting from $4.59

Dry Braided Carbon Fiber Tape - Biaxial +/-15° & +/-25° - Sold by the Yard

P/N: BRT-C-GROUP

Starting from $4.97

Dry Braided Red Aramid/Carbon Sleeve - Biaxial +/-45° - Sold by the Yard

P/N: BR-CRA-GROUP

Starting from $5.59

Dry Braided Yellow Aramid/Carbon Sleeve - Biaxial +/-45° - Sold by the Yard

P/N: BR-CA-GROUP

Starting from $6.12

Sample Pack - Dry Fabrics - Choose from Carbon, Fiberglass, Kevlar & More

P/N: SAMPLES-FABRICS Available Now: 7

$7.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Fiberglass - Style 7781 - 8 Harness Satin - 8.95oz/yd^2 (0.009" thick) - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 13003-D-GROUP

Starting from $41.99

Dry Woven Fabric - E-Glass - Style 7500, 9.4 oz (319 GSM) Total Weight - 50" Wide x 0.012" Thick - F16 Finish

P/N: 13048-D-GROUP

Starting from $41.99

Dry Non Woven - Carbon Fiber (PAN) - Tissue/Veil - 35.5" Wide - Thickness: 0.0025" - 0.3 Oz. Per Yard - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 3002-D-GROUP

Starting from $63.99

Dry Non Woven Fabric - Carbon Fiber (HTS40) - 12K Unidirectional - 320 GSM (9.4oz) - Various Sizes Available - Approximately 0.011 thick

P/N: 13024-D-GROUP

Starting from $67.99

Chopped Carbon Fiber - Epoxy Compatible Sizing - 12mm Length Fiber

P/N: CHOPPED-CF-GROUP

Starting from $68.99

Dry Woven - 1140 Denier Kevlar® 49 - Plain Weave - 50" Wide - 5.3 oz - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 13026-D-GROUP

Starting from $73.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Carbon Fiber (Toray T300) 3K 2x2 Twill Weave, 50" Wide x 0.012" Thick - 204 GSM - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 13005-D-GROUP

Starting from $74.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Carbon Fiber (Toray T300) 3K Plain Weave - 50" Wide x 0.012" Thick - 204 GSM - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 13006-D-GROUP

Starting from $74.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Tri-Weave - Carbon, Kevlar, Glass - 50 Inch Wide

P/N: 13050-GROUP

Starting from $79.99

Dry Woven Fabric - 3K - Diamond Weave - 204 GSM - 50" Wide - Priced Per Yard - BLOWOUT MATERIAL

P/N: 13008-D Available Now: 2

$83.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Carbon Fiber - 2x2 Twill - Standard Modulus - 50" Wide x 0.037" Thick - 670 GSM - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 13018-D-GROUP

Starting from $89.99

Hypetex Red (Enzo) 3k 2x2 Twill T Hexcel AS4C 220 GSM - Sold by Linear Yard

P/N: 13052-LYD

$98.99

Hypetex Blue (Tendulkar) 3k 2x2 Twill T Hexcel AS4C 220 GSM - Sold by Linear Yard

P/N: 13053-LYD

$98.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Carbon Fiber - Qiso "Heavy" Triaxial Balanced - 532 gsm 48" Wide

P/N: 13012-D-GROUP

Starting from $98.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Flax Fiber - 2x2 Twill - 10.8 oz/yd^2 - 367gsm - 50" Wide - Various Roll Lengths Available

P/N: 13055-D-GROUP

Starting from $99.99

Dry Woven Fabric – Carbon Fiber – BIMAX “Heavy-Heavy” Bi-axial +/-45 Twill – 713 gsm – 52” Wide

P/N: 13033-D-GROUP

Starting from $113.99

Hypetex Red (Enzo) Spreadtow TR50S 120 GSM - Sold by Linear Yard

P/N: 13054-LYD

$132.99

Hypetex Blue (Tendulkar) Spreadtow TR50S 120 GSM - Sold by Linear Yard

P/N: 13056-LYD

$132.99

Dry Woven Fabric - Carbon Fiber (T300) - 42" Wide - 1k Plain Weave - 0.0075" Ply Thickness - 127 GSM - Various Sizes Available

P/N: 13016-D-GROUP

Starting from $176.99

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