Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Fabric (UD‑CF)
— All Fibers Aligned in One Direction · 0° Primary Load Bearing · Lay‑Up Customizable · Prepreg & Hand‑Lay‑Up Compatible
1. Product Definition
Unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber fabric consists of 3K, 6K, 12K, 24K, or 50K PAN‑based tow aligned in parallel, then lightly stitched at 90° intervals (5–10 mm) with ultra‑fine thermoplastic binder yarn or glass/polyester thread. This yields a high‑strength fabric with 95 % of fibers carrying load at 0° and 5 % maintaining shape laterally. Compared to woven cloth, UD fabric has no fiber crimp, offering straight‑line fiber alignment that boosts tensile strength and modulus by 20–30 % per unit weight—ideal for primary load‑bearing structures (beams, shafts, wings).
2. Product Range & Typical Dimensions
| Tow / Grade | Weight (g/m²) | Thickness (mm) | Width (cm) | Roll Length (m) | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3K‑UD | 125 | 0.12 | 100 / 150 / 200 / 300 | 100 | UAV spars, bike forks |
| 6K‑UD | 200 | 0.20 | 100 / 150 / 300 | 100 | Drive shafts, ski cores |
| 12K‑UD | 300 | 0.30 | 100 / 150 / 300 / 600 | 50–100 | Drone wings, marine masts |
| 12K‑UD | 400 | 0.40 | 100 / 150 / 600 | 50 | Industrial rollers, wind‑turbine spars |
| 24K‑UD | 600 | 0.60 | 100 / 150 / 600 / 1200 | 50 | Structural panels, bridge cables |
| 50K‑UD | 1200 | 1.20 | 300 / 600 / 1200 | 30 | Leaf springs, concrete column wraps |
Customizable: 80–1600 g/m²; widths 10–1500 cm; lengths 1–1000 m.
3. Technical Data (300 g/m² 12K‑UD Example)
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Fiber Volume Fraction | ≥ 65 % (prepreg) |
| 0° Tensile Strength | ≥ 2800 MPa |
| 0° Elastic Modulus | ≥ 160 GPa |
| 90° Tensile Strength | ≥ 40 MPa (stitching yarn) |
| Interlaminar Shear Strength | ≥ 80 MPa |
| Service Temperature | −50 °C to +200 °C (post‑cure) |
4. Process Compatibility
- Prepreg: 38 ± 2 % resin content in epoxy, BMI, or PEEK—cure at 120 °C for 90 min.
- Hand Lay‑Up: Recommended resin 250–300 g/m²; vacuum bag at 0.8–1 bar.
- RTM / Filament Winding: Straight fiber paths minimize flow resistance—ideal for long shafts and tubes.
- Hot‑Pressing: Custom stacks of 0°/90°/±45° achieve quasi‑isotropic laminates.
5. Lay‑Up Examples for Load‑Bearing Beams
| Stacking Sequence | Layer Weight (g/m²) | Total Thickness (mm) | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| [0/90/0/90]ₛ | 300 × 4 | 1.2 | Bidirectional panels |
| [0/45/−45/0]ₛ | 300 × 4 | 1.2 | High‑shear beams |
| [0/0/0/90] | 300 × 4 | 1.2 | Primary load beams |
6. Application Overview
- Aerospace: Wing spars, satellite payload tubes, rocket casings.
- Automotive: Drive shafts, crash beams, leaf springs, B‑pillar reinforcements.
- Wind Energy: Blade spar caps, extruded spar panels.
- Construction: Concrete beam, column, and deck wraps for 30–60 % load increase.
- Sports Equipment: Bike forks, tennis racquets, ski cores, paddle shafts.
- Medical: MRI‑safe operating table inserts, orthopedic fixation frames.
7. Packaging & Delivery
- Roll Core: 76 mm paper tube wrapped in PE film → kraft paper → carton.
- Pallet: Shrink‑wrapped with corner protectors → fumigated wooden pallet.
- MOQ: Stock 10 m; custom from 100 m; lead time 3–5 days.
- Certifications: Includes ASTM/EN/GB test reports, RoHS, REACH.
Offline Contracts
All sales of our carbon fiber materials are conducted through offline contract agreements to ensure each order precisely meets your specifications, compliance requirements, and agreed payment terms. Please contact our sales team to initiate the contract process and discuss project details.
| name | value | unitCode | unitText |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOQ | 50 | PCS | |
| Lead Time | 5–20 | business days | |
| Material | Carbon Fiber | ||
| Size | Customizable (width / length / areal weight) |
Resources
Unidirectional carbon fiber fabric—every filament aligned with the load path, pushing weight reduction and stiffness to the limit.
