Carbon fiber sheets are light in weight while having a good strength making them a popular choice in a diverse range of applications and industries. But how carbon fibers are made? In this context, we’ll get to know about the different manufacturing processes of carbon fiber sheets.
Method 1
Carbon fiber sheets are used for a wide range of applications because of their various properties such as strength, stiffness, and lightweight. From aerospace companies to sports equipment, carbon fiber sheets have been used widely. Even luxury items like watches also use the material in their manufacturing process. But the question is how carbon fiber sheets are produced by Carbon fiber manufacturing companies.
Precursor
The raw material named precursor is used to make carbon fiber sheets. They are organic and inorganic materials that are heated and pressurized to break down the molecular structure. Then the fiber is prepared with the long molecular chains.
Give a specific direction to the fibers
In this step, the fibers are aligned into a specific direction to create a unidirectional material. Pultrusion is the name given to this process in which the carbon fibers are aligned in a specific direction. Precursors are pulled using a heated die where the fibers are heated.
Woven into a cloth or other fabric
Once the fibers are aligned they will be woven into other fabric or cloth and then heat-set in the oven. The present heat helps to fuse the fibers together while making them more durable. The process helps in creating a flat and uniform surface.
Impregnate the resultant cloth with resin
The step has been taken place by soaking the fabric in the resin and then injecting it into the fabric. This provides enough strength and stiffness.
Carbon fiber sheets use heat and pressure to get the desired shape
In this step, the carbon fiber sheet is cured with heat and pressure to harden the resin. This helps in transforming the material into the desired shape of the desired thickness. Then the sheets can be cut and shaped to transform into the desired product. help in turning the product into a finished product.
Method 2
This is another method used for the creation of carbon fiber sheets.
Carbon fiber production
The process production of carbon fiber is made up of a combination of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and other organic materials. To prepare the fibers, firstly the PAN is heated and then stretched to convert it into long strands. Again, these strands have been heated and stretched.
Resin mixing
Once the carbon fibers are collected and mixed with resin. The used resin is helpful in binding the fibers together. This step enhances the strength of the product. Then the mixture is placed into a mold that helps these to take the desired shape. Then the sheet can be cut into the desired shape and size according to the needs of the application.
Due to various properties of the carbon fiber sheets, it has been used in a diverse range of applications from automotive to aerospace. They are also inexpensive when compared to their properties and easy to manufacture. There are also other methods used to create carbon fiber sheets.