Carbon Fibre Types and Properties
topic
Classifications: Standard modulus (230-240 GPa, strength 3.5-4.5 GPa—general aerospace), Intermediate modulus (280-320 GPa, strength 4.5-6.0 GPa—aerospace primary structures), High modulus (350-500 GPa, strength 3.0-4.0 GPa—satellite structures, stiffness-critical), Ultra-high modulus (500-900 GPa, strength 2.0-3.5 GPa—space applications). All types: density 1.75-1.95 g/cm³, diameter 5-7 μm, specific strength/stiffness 3-5× steel.
Role
Property variations through processing (carbonization temperature, precursor tension, graphitization) enable application-specific optimization: aerospace requires strength-modulus balance, satellites need maximum stiffness, automotive seeks cost-effective performance.