Carbon Fiber Knowledge
The latest from the world of advanced composites and carbon fiber technology.
The global carbon fiber industry faces an escalating demand for supply chain traceability driven by aerospace qualification standards (AS9100, NADCAP), defense procurement regulations (ITAR, EAR), and increasingly stringent customer audit requirements. Every carbon fiber tow, prepreg roll, and finis
Marine hydrofoils lift a vessel's hull above the water surface at speed, reducing hydrodynamic drag by up to 80% compared to conventional displacement hulls. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has become the material of choice for hydrofoil structures because it delivers the high specific stiffn
Infrared heating for carbon fiber cure represents a fundamental shift in how composite parts are processed. Traditional convection ovens heat the air around a part, which then transfers heat to the composite surface through convection — a process that is inherently slow because air is a poor heat co
Japan's carbon fiber industry represents the most concentrated hub of advanced materials expertise in the world. Three Japanese companies — Toray Industries, Teijin Limited, and Mitsubishi Chemical Group — produce more than half of the world's carbon fiber, supplying aerospace, automotive, wind ener
Out-of-autoclave carbon fiber processing represents one of the most significant manufacturing technology shifts in aerospace composites. Traditional autoclave curing — pressurizing parts to 6-7 bar at 180°C — produces excellent void content and mechanical properties, but the capital cost of a produc
Europe represents the second-largest carbon fiber market globally after Asia-Pacific, accounting for approximately 32% of worldwide carbon fiber composite revenue in 2026 — estimated at $3.2 billion of a $10 billion global market. The European market is distinguished by its concentration in high-val
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are inherently combustible — the organic polymer matrix (typically epoxy, polyester, or vinyl ester) ignites and burns when exposed to sufficient heat flux, releasing heat and toxic gases. This combustibility is the primary barrier to broader adoptio
The commercial space industry has undergone a fundamental shift with the advent of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). Companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Blue Origin have demonstrated that rockets can be recovered, refurbished, and reflown — reducing launch costs by 30-70% compared to expendable ar
High-pressure resin transfer molding — commonly abbreviated as HP-RTM — has emerged as the dominant manufacturing process for producing carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) structural components in automotive series production. Unlike aerospace prepreg-autoclave workflows that accept cycle times o