What is Carbon Fibre Fabric?

Carbon fibre fabric is just like other fabrics except it uses carbon fibres instead of cotton, nylon, polyester, etc. The weave is coarser than fabrics used for clothing, it is more like a heavy canvas. Carbon fibre fabric needs to be laminated with a matrix (i.e. resin) to form a rigid structure.

Why are there different weaves of carbon fibre fabric?

Carbon fiber comes in different weaves optimized for different uses. For example, the standard twill weave is a good all-purpose fabric. Unidirectional fabric is good for adding strength and stiffness in one direction. Plain weave is good for delicate layups and some patterns are just designed for a unique look!

What’s the difference between carbon fibre fabric and prepreg?

Prepreg is a version of carbon fiber that already has a tacky resin impregnated into it. Both carbon fiber fabric and prepreg can be cut and formed into all sort of shapes. Unlike carbon fiber fabric which can be made at room temperature, prepreg requires elevated temperatures and pressure to cure properly.