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.

Microballoons

$20.35 – $1,397.00 incl. GST

Composition: Phenolic Resin
Appearance: Red/Brown Powder
Particle Size: 50 microns
Particle Density: 250g/litre approx.
Bulk Density: 100g/litre approx.

DATA SHEET: MICROBALLOONS

Size

Clear

Description

Microballoons are hollow phenolic resin spheres which have a distinctive reddish/brown colouration. This makes them particularly useful for cosmetic fillet joints and fillers in wood construction, as well as structural adhesives for less demanding applications on softer timbers such as cedar.
Although not as waterproof as glass bubbles, microballoons are often preferred for their excellent sanding characteristics. Microballoons are not normally used with polyester or vinylester resins because they can be subject to styrene attack which may cause the spheres to collapse.
When storing microballoons, it is particularly important to exclude air as they readily absorb atmospheric moisture which will affect the performance of the filled mix.