Details
Carbon Multiaxial Fabric is a non-crimp, layered reinforcement material composed of multiple unidirectional carbon fiber layers oriented at different angles (e.g., 0°, ±45°, 90°) and stitched together with a lightweight polyester, glass, or thermoplastic thread.
Unlike unidirectional or exclusively bidirectional fabrics, multiaxial fabrics avoid fiber crimping while maintaining fiber straightness to optimize mechanical performance. This structure offers multidirectional strength in a single ply, decreasing layup time and labor in composite manufacturing. Multiaxial textiles are designed for applications that require balanced strength across several axes, such as the aerospace, wind energy, and maritime industries.
What are the key features of carbon multiaxial fabrics?
Carbon multiaxial fabrics are engineered to optimize the use of carbon fibers. Their key features include:
Multi-Directional Fiber Alignment:
Fibers are arranged in several orientations (0°, ±45°, 90°) and directions (e.g., biaxial, triaxial, quadriaxial) to transfer loads over many axes.
Enhanced Structural Performance:
Offers high tensile strength, stiffness, and improved fatigue resistance due to optimized fiber layout.
Reduced Ply Count:
Multiaxial designs can lower the number of plies necessary to obtain the appropriate mechanical qualities compared to single-axis fabrics. There is up to 70% fiber content, resulting in improved strength-to-weight ratio.
Design Flexibility:
The ability to tailor the fiber orientation allows engineers to customize the reinforcement to specific load conditions and design requirements.
Efficient Resin Use:
The open and structured structure allows for greater resin infiltration and homogeneous wet-out throughout the composite manufacturing process. It's compatible with epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester, and thermoplastic resins.
Improved Damage Tolerance:
Multiple fiber orientations help in redistributing and absorbing localized stresses, thus delaying crack propagation and enhancing impact resistance.
Non-Crimp Structure: Straight fibers avoid strength loss caused by weaving-induced crimping.
How many types of carbon multiaxial fabrics?
By Layer Orientation:
Biaxial (0°/90° or ±45°): Balances strength in two directions (common in marine hulls and automotive panels).
Triaxial (0°/±45°): Combines axial and shear strength (e.g., wind turbine blades, aerospace components).
Quadraxial (0°/±45°/90°): Full multidirectional reinforcement for complex stresses (e.g., aircraft fuselages).
By Fiber Type:
Pure Carbon: Maximizes stiffness and strength (e.g., aerospace, robotics).
Hybrid: Combines carbon with glass, aramid, or basalt fibers for cost reduction, impact resistance, or thermal stability.
What advantages of carbon multiaxial fabrics are there?
Carbon multiaxial fabrics provide numerous advantages over traditional reinforcement materials:
Multi-Directional Strength:
The integration of fibers in numerous directions allows the composite to withstand loads from several axes, which is critical in complex stress settings.
Reduced Weight and Thickness:
Offers a high strength-to-weight ratio and can achieve desired mechanical properties with fewer plies, lowering the overall weight and profile of the composite structure.
Enhanced Durability and Fatigue Resistance:
Improved endurance under cyclic or dynamic loads results from the dispersed fiber orientation's assistance in lowering stress concentrations. A non-crimp construction reduces the spread of cracks.
Tailorable Mechanical Properties:
Designers can adjust fiber angles and layer stacking sequences to meet specified bending, shear, and torsion performance requirements.
Efficient Manufacturing:
Improved resin flow and wet-out promote high-quality composite parts with fewer voids and defects, ultimately enhancing product reliability.
Versatile Application Range:
Its balanced properties make it ideal for high-performance applications in aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, and sports equipment.
Time Efficiency: Reduces layup labor vs. stacking multiple unidirectional plies.
Product Parameter：
Parameter | Range/Value |
Areal Weight | 300–1,200 g/m² |
Layer Orientations | 0°, ±45°, 90° (customizable) |
Tensile Strength | 3,000–6,000 MPa (fiber-dependent) |
Tensile Modulus | 200–600 GPa |
Thickness per Ply | 0.3–1.5 mm |
Stitch Type | Polyester, glass, or thermoplastic thread |
Resin Content (Prepreg) | 35–45% by weight |
Cure Temperature | 120–180°C (resin-dependent) |
Density | 1.75–1.85 g/cm³ |
Product Specification Table：
Model No. | Overall Density (g/m²) | 0° Roving Density (g/m²) | +45° Roving Density (g/m²) | 90° Roving Density (g/m²) | -45° Roving Density (g/m²) | Chop Density (g/m²) | Polyester Yarn Density (g/m²) | Material Type |
MFUDL150 | 170 | 154 | / | 10 | / | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFUDL300 | 319 | 303 | / | 10 | / | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFBX150 | 156 | / | 75 | / | 75 | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFBX200 | 206 | / | 100 | / | 100 | / | 6 | Carbon 24K |
MFBX240 | 246 | / | 120 | / | 120 | / | 6 | Carbon 50K |
MFBX300 | 306 | / | 150 | / | 150 | / | 6 | Carbon 50K |
MFBX400 | 406 | / | 200 | / | 200 | / | 6 | Carbon 50K |
MFBX300 | 306 | / | 150 | / | 150 | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFBX400 | 406 | / | 200 | / | 200 | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFBX600 | 606 | / | 300 | / | 300 | / | 6 | Carbon 24K |
MFLT300 | 306 | 150 | / | 150 | / | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFLT300 | 306 | 150 | / | 150 | / | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFLT400 | 406 | 200 | / | 200 | / | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFLT600 | 606 | 300 | / | 300 | / | / | 6 | Carbon 24K |
MFSP150 | 156 | 75 | 75 | / | / | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFLX225 | 231 | 75 | 75 | / | 75 | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFQX400 | 406 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFQX800 | 806 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | / | 6 | Carbon 12K |
MFCGTM825 | 837 | 150/150 | / | 150/150 | N/A | 225 | 12 | 12K/Glass |
What are the applications of carbon multiaxial fabrics?
Carbon multiaxial fabrics are used in a wide array of industries due to their versatile performance:
Wind Energy: Wind turbine blade skins, spar caps, root reinforcements.
Aerospace: Wing skins, fuselage panels, helicopter rotor blades.
Marine: Boat hulls, decks, masts.
Automotive: Chassis, crash structures, EV battery enclosures.
Sports: Racing yacht masts, bicycle rims, snowboards.
Industrial: Pressure vessels, pipes, robotic arms.
Civil Engineering: Bridge reinforcements, seismic retrofitting.
How to store and handle carbon multiaxial fabrics?
Dry Multiaxial Fabric:
oStore in a cool, dry place (15–25°C) away from UV light.
oUse sealed, moisture-proof packaging to prevent contamination.
oAvoid folding or creasing to maintain fiber alignment.
Prepreg Multiaxial Fabric:
oFreeze at -18°C in original, vacuum-sealed packaging.
oThaw at room temperature for 12–24 hours before use (keep sealed to avoid condensation).
oLimit out-time to ≤30 days at 21°C (50% RH).
General Handling:
oWear gloves to prevent oil or dust contamination.
oUse clean, sharp tools for cutting to minimize fraying.
FAQ
Q: What distinguishes carbon multiaxial fabric from other carbon fabric types?
A: Carbon multiaxial fabrics, with fibers oriented in three or more directions (e.g., 0°, ±45°, 90°), provide improved multi-directional reinforcement compared to unidirectional or bi-directional fabrics. This improves performance under complicated, multi-axial loads.
Q: Can carbon multiaxial fabric be used for both new construction and retrofitting?
A: Yes, carbon multiaxial fabric is suitable for both purposes. It can be integrated into prefabricated composite components in new construction, but it can also be retrofitted to existing structures to improve load capacity, seismic performance, or damage restoration.
Q: What resin systems are compatible with carbon multiaxial fabric?
A: These fabrics are typically compatible with high-performance epoxy resins, as well as polyester or vinyl ester systems. The fiber sizing is formulated to ensure optimum bonding with the chosen resin.
Q: How does the orientation of fibers in multiaxial fabrics enhance structural performance?
A: Multiple fiber orientations enable the composite to better distribute loads in different directions. Fibers with ±45° angles can increase shear strength and torsional resistance, whereas 0° and 90° fibers improve tensile and bending performance.
Q: When should I use triaxial vs. quadriaxial fabric?
A: Use triaxial (0°/±45°) for combined axial and shear loads (e.g., turbine blades). Quadriaxial (0°/±45°/90°) adds transverse strength for complex stresses (e.g., aircraft panels).
Q: Can carbon multiaxial fabric be customized to non-standard angles?
A: Yes, We can tailor orientations, but standard angles (0°, ±45°, 90°) are most cost-effective.
Q: Is the stitching thread of carbon multiaxial fabrics compatible with resin systems?
A: Polyester and glass threads are inert, while thermoplastic threads melt during curing, enhancing consolidation.
Q: Is carbon multiaxial fabric recyclable?
A: Thermoplastic multiaxial prepreg can be re-melted. Thermoset versions require pyrolysis, which degrades fibers.
Q: How to choose areal weight of carbon multiaxial fabrics for my application?
A: Lighter weights (300–500 g/m²) suit thin laminates (e.g., drones). Heavyweights (800–1,200 g/m²) are ideal for structural parts (e.g., wind blades).
Q: What causes delamination in carbon multiaxial composites?
A: Poor resin bonding, contamination, or off-axis loads. Ensure proper surface preparation and curing.
