EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARBON FIBER TUBES

(1) Definition and basic characteristics of carbon fiber tubes

As a kind of high performance composite material products, carbon fiber tube has shown excellent performance and wide application prospects in the professional field. The following is the definition of carbon fiber tube and its more detailed performance characteristics.

1.Define

Carbon fiber tube, the use of high-performance carbon fiber and its fabric as reinforcement materials, through advanced composite technology and scientific production process processing. It not only retains the excellent performance of carbon fiber material itself, but also obtains more characteristics that can not be matched by a single material through the composite effect.

2. Performance characteristics

2.1 High strength and high modulus:

Carbon fiber tubes have extremely high tensile strength and elastic modulus, and their strength can reach 6-12 times that of steel, even more than 3000MPa, and can still maintain excellent structural stability under high stress. This means that carbon fiber tubes require less material and a lighter structure to withstand the same load. For applications that need to reduce weight while maintaining high strength, such as aerospace, racing, etc., carbon fiber tubes are ideal.

2.2 Lightweight:

The density of carbon fiber tubes is extremely low, only less than 1/4 of steel, which gives it a significant advantage in weight. The lightweight carbon fiber tubes help reduce the weight of the overall structure, thereby improving energy efficiency and operational performance. In aerospace, automotive manufacturing and other fields, reducing weight means reducing energy consumption and emissions and reducing costs.

2.3 Corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance:

Carbon fiber tube has excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance, can maintain stable performance under harsh environmental conditions, and is not susceptible to chemical corrosion and high temperature. This allows carbon fiber tubes to have longer service life and lower maintenance costs in harsh environments such as Marine engineering, chemical equipment, and high temperature furnaces.

2.4 Excellent dimensional stability:

Carbon fiber tube has low CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion), dimensional stability, and is not easy to deform due to temperature changes. In high-precision applications, such as precision instruments, optical equipment and other fields, the dimensional stability of carbon fiber tubes can ensure the accuracy and stability of the equipment, and improve the reliability and service life of the product.

2.5 Good fatigue resistance:

The fatigue resistance of carbon fiber tube is excellent, and the interface between fiber and matrix makes the fatigue crack not easy to expand. After multiple cycle loads, the carbon fiber tube can still maintain high strength and stability, thus extending the service life of the product and reducing the number of maintenance.

2.6 Shock absorption performance:

Carbon fiber tube has a high natural frequency, is not easy to occur resonance damage, and can effectively absorb vibration energy. In applications where vibration and noise need to be reduced, such as high-speed trains, precision machinery and other fields, the shock absorption performance of carbon fiber tubes can improve the comfort and reliability of products.

In summary, carbon fiber tubes bring many benefits to customers with their excellent performance characteristics, including weight reduction, improved energy efficiency, extended service life, and reduced maintenance costs. These advantages make carbon fiber tubes widely used and highly appraised in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, ocean engineering, precision instruments and other fields.

(2) Advantages compared with other materials

Fiber pipes, especially glass fiber pipes and carbon fiber pipes, have significant advantages over other traditional materials (such as metal materials, ordinary plastic pipes, etc.). The following is a detailed description of the points:

1. Compared with metal materials (such as steel pipe and aluminum alloy pipe)

Lightweight: fiberglass tubes and carbon fiber tubes have low density and are much lighter than metal tubes. For example, carbon fiber tubes have less than a quarter of the density of steel, which makes them a great advantage in situations where they need to reduce their own weight (such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, etc.).
High strength: Despite the light weight, the strength of fiberglass and carbon fiber tubes is very high. The strength of carbon fiber tube is 6-12 times that of steel, and the tensile strength can reach more than 3000MPa. This makes them excellent in applications that require high strength support.
Corrosion resistance: Metal materials are vulnerable to erosion in humid or corrosive environments and require anti-corrosion treatment. The glass fiber pipe and carbon fiber pipe have good corrosion resistance and can maintain high stability in acid, alkali and salt environment for a long time.
Thermal conductivity: Carbon fiber tubes also have good thermal conductivity and are able to transfer heat quickly, which is particularly important in some applications that require high thermal conductivity.
Electromagnetic transparency: carbon fiber tube has good transparency to electromagnetic waves, will not interfere with the transmission of electromagnetic signals, suitable for electromagnetic shielding or wireless signal transmission occasions.

2. Compared with ordinary plastic pipes

Strength and stiffness: Fiberglass tubes and carbon fiber tubes are made of high-strength fiber reinforced materials, which have much higher strength and stiffness than ordinary plastic tubes, and can withstand greater loads and deformation.
Heat resistance: Ordinary plastic pipes are easy to soften and deform at high temperatures, while glass fiber pipes and carbon fiber pipes have a wider temperature range, and can even work normally at higher temperatures through the use of specially formulated high temperature resistant resins.
Wear resistance: The inner wall of the glass fiber pipe and carbon fiber pipe is smooth, the friction resistance is small, the wear resistance is good, suitable for long-term transportation containing a lot of mud, sand water and other wear media occasions.
Insulation: Fiberglass tube is a non-conductor, has excellent electric insulation performance, high insulation resistance, suitable for power transmission, telecommunication lines dense areas and minefields.

3. Comprehensive advantages

Design flexibility: fiberglass tubes and carbon fiber tubes can be produced through different molds to produce various profiles, such as round tubes, square tubes, etc., and are easy to customize processing to meet diverse use needs.
Good anti-aging performance: glass fiber pipe and carbon fiber pipe can maintain stable performance during long-term use, good anti-aging performance, and extend the service life.
Environmental protection: Compared with some metal materials, glass fiber tubes and carbon fiber tubes have less impact on the environment during production and use, and are more in line with environmental protection requirements.

In summary, glass fiber pipe and carbon fiber pipe have significant advantages over other traditional materials in light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, electromagnetic transparency, design flexibility, anti-aging performance and environmental protection. These advantages make them widely used in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, sports equipment, medical equipment and other fields.

NQ uses advanced carbon fiber composite prepreg technology, combined with heat curing pultrusion (twisting) molding process, to ensure high precision and high performance of carbon fiber tubes. In the production process, NQ strictly controls each process, including raw material pretreatment, mold design, resin coating, high temperature curing, etc., to ensure product stability and consistency. NQ has a strong R & D and customization capabilities, can design and produce a variety of specifications, shapes and performance of carbon fiber tubes according to customer needs, such as circular tubes, square tubes, shaped tubes, etc., to meet the needs of different application scenarios NQ manufactured carbon fiber tubes in technical materials and other aspects of significant advantages, these advantages make carbon fiber tubes in many fields have a wide range of application prospects. With the continuous progress of technology and the gradual reduction of costs, it is believed that carbon fiber tubes will be promoted and applied in more fields in the future.

Comparison	Трубка из углеродного волокна	Steel	Алюминий	Стекловолокно
Density (g/cm³)	1.65-1.8	7.8	2.7	1.5-2.0
Вес	Extremely light	Relatively heavy	Relatively light	Relatively light
Tensile Strength (MPa)	1500-3500	300-600	100-500	300-1200
Modulus (GPa)	High, depending on carbon fiber grade	200-210	69-70	Lower, depending on resin and glass fiber quality
Устойчивость к коррозии	Excellent, low electrochemical activity	Poor, prone to rust	Good, but not as good as carbon fiber	Good, depending on resin type
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	Small, good dimensional stability	Larger	Larger	Larger
Электропроводность	Non-conductive (unless specially treated)	Conductive	Conductive	Insulating, but may be affected by resin
Теплопроводность	Good, but lower than metals	Excellent	Good	Poor, depending on resin and glass fiber quality
Fatigue Life	Long, excellent fatigue resistance	Moderate, fatigue strength limit is 30%-50% of tensile strength	Moderate, similar to steel	Depends on specific structure and application environment
Design Flexibility	High, easy to customize and process complex shapes	Lower, more difficult to process	Higher, but not as flexible as carbon fiber	Higher, but shape and performance limited by pultrusion process
Стоимость	Higher initial cost, but significant long-term cost savings	Lower, but potential for higher maintenance costs	Moderate, between carbon fiber and steel	Lower, but performance may be limited
Поля приложений	Aerospace, automotive, sports equipment, medical devices, etc.	Construction, bridges, machinery, vehicles, etc.	Aerospace, automotive, electronics, packaging, etc.	Chemical industry, water treatment, construction, electrical insulation, etc.

Please note that the values and descriptions in the table are general comparisons, and specific performance may vary depending on the specific type of material, production process, and application environment.

(3) The benefits of using carbon fiber tubes

1. Aerospace

Lightweight design: Carbon fiber tubes have extremely low density and extremely high strength, compared with traditional metal materials, can significantly reduce the weight of aircraft, satellites and other spacecraft, thereby improving fuel efficiency and flight performance. This lightweight design is crucial for the aerospace sector as it is directly related to the carrying capacity and cost-effectiveness of the vehicle.
Corrosion resistance and durability: Carbon fiber tubes have good corrosion resistance and durability, and can maintain stable performance in extreme environments, reducing maintenance costs and use risks. This is particularly important for aerospace equipment that operates in harsh environments for long periods of time.
Structural strength and rigidity: The high strength and rigidity of carbon fiber tube make it perform well when subjected to complex loads and deformation, providing a higher safety margin for the structural design of aerospace spacecraft.

2. The automobile industry

Fuel economy: Similar to the aerospace sector, the application of carbon fiber tubes in the automotive industry can also significantly reduce the weight of the body, thereby improving fuel economy. For the pursuit of energy conservation and emission reduction of modern automobile manufacturing industry, this is an advantage that cannot be ignored.
Handling performance: The lightweight design not only improves fuel economy, but also improves the handling performance of the car. The lighter body means faster response and lower inertia, making the driving experience smoother and more stable.
Safety: The high strength and stiffness of carbon fiber tubes also help to improve the safety performance of the car. In extreme situations such as collisions, it is able to better protect the safety of the occupants of the car.

3. Sports equipment

Performance improvement: The application of carbon fiber tubes in sports equipment such as golf clubs and bicycle frames has significantly improved the performance of the equipment. Its characteristics of light weight and high strength make it easier for athletes to control the equipment and play a better level.
Durability: The corrosion resistance and durability of carbon fiber tubes also extend the service life of sports equipment and reduce the cost of replacement and repair. This is an important consideration for sports equipment that needs to be used regularly.
Aesthetic: The carbon fiber tube has a unique texture and luster, adding a sense of modernity and science and technology to the sports equipment, and improving the overall quality of the product.

4. Mechanical equipment and industrial applications

High efficiency operation: In textile, printing and other mechanical equipment, the application of carbon fiber tubes can reduce the weight and motion inertia of the equipment, and improve the operating efficiency and stability of the equipment. This is an important advantage for machinery that requires high speed and stable operation.
Corrosion resistance: In chemical, Marine and other corrosive environments, the corrosion resistance of carbon fiber tubes enables it to operate stably for a long time without damage, reducing maintenance costs and use risks.
Customized production: carbon fiber tubes have good designability and manufacturing customization, and can be customized according to the actual needs of customers to meet the special requirements of different industry scenarios.

5. Environmental protection and sustainable development

Although there are certain environmental challenges in the production and disposal of carbon fiber tubes, its excellent performance allows it to significantly reduce material consumption and energy consumption in many applications. With the improvement of environmental awareness and technological progress, the environmental performance of carbon fiber tubes will also be further improved and promoted. For example, by optimizing the production process and recycling technology, the production cost and environmental impact of carbon fiber tubes can be reduced.

To sum up, the benefits of using carbon fiber tubes in different industry scenarios are manifold, including lightweight design, improved performance, reduced costs, extended service life, environmental protection and sustainable development. These advantages make carbon fiber tube a kind of high performance material with wide application prospect.

Industry	Benefits of Using Carbon Fiber Tubes
Аэрокосмическая промышленность	1. Significant weight reduction, improving flight performance (fuel efficiency and payload capacity). 2. Excellent strength and stiffness, enhancing flight safety. 3. Strong corrosion resistance, reducing maintenance costs. 4. Good thermal conductivity, suitable for high-temperature environments. 5. Electromagnetic transparency, suitable for electromagnetically sensitive equipment.
Автомобили	1. Lightweight body, improving fuel economy and handling performance. 2. Enhanced braking system performance, improving stopping power. 3. Strong corrosion resistance, extending vehicle lifespan. 4. Aesthetically pleasing and high-end, enhancing overall vehicle quality. 5. Application in drive shafts and other components, improving system stability and reliability.
Спортивное оборудование	1. Reduced equipment weight, improving athlete performance (speed, endurance). 2. Excellent strength and stiffness, minimizing equipment bending and deformation. 3. Low vibration, enhancing sport comfort. 4. Aesthetically pleasing and durable, extending equipment lifespan. 5. Suitable for various sports equipment, such as golf clubs, bicycle frames, etc.
Медицинские приборы	1. Lightweight and sturdy, easy to carry and operate. 2. Strong corrosion resistance, suitable for various medical environments. 3. Good biocompatibility, suitable for implantable devices. 4. Application in surgical instruments, prosthetics, wheelchairs, etc., improving patient quality of life. 5. Extended equipment lifespan, reducing replacement costs.
Industrial Equipment	1. Reduced equipment weight, improving operational flexibility and precision. 2. Strong corrosion resistance, reducing maintenance needs. 3. Application in rollers, robotic arms, etc., improving system stability and reliability. 4. Suitable for various industrial environments, such as printing, textiles, etc. 5. Extended equipment lifespan, reducing overall operating costs.

(4) History and development of carbon fiber tubes

1. The birth and early application of carbon fiber

Carbon fiber dates back to the 1870s, when it was mainly used as a filament material for incandescent lamps. In 1860, British chemist Swann tried to use carbon strips and other materials to prepare incandescent filament, and made some progress. Subsequently, the American inventor Edison improved on this basis and obtained the invention patent for the preparation of carbon fiber filament in 1892, which was the first large-scale commercial application of carbon fiber. However, the quality and performance of carbon fiber during this period are still unstable, and the application range is limited.

2. Dormant period and breakthrough of carbon fiber technology

From 1900 to 1950, carbon fiber technology experienced a 50-year dormant period. Although carbon fiber has been used as a filament material, its application in other fields has not been widely promoted due to performance and quality problems. It was not until the 1950s, with great advances in the chemical industry and technology, that the research and application of carbon fiber regained attention. In particular, the development of rockets and aerospace industries has provided an opportunity for the large-scale preparation and application of carbon fiber.

3. Rapid development of carbon fiber technology

Key technological breakthroughs:

In 1956, the United States Union Carbide Company successfully expanded the production of carbon fiber preparation technology and named it “Thornel-25”.

In 1959, Akio Kondo of Osaka Industrial Research Institute in Japan successfully prepared carbon fiber with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as raw material, which has important landmark significance in the history of carbon fiber development.

Industrial production and application:

Since the 1960s, carbon fiber has gradually entered the stage of industrial production. Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States have become major forces in carbon fiber technology research and development.

In 1970, Japan’s Toray Company cooperated with the United States Union Carbide Company to produce T300 grade carbon fiber, marking the further development of high-performance carbon fiber.

4. Birth and application of carbon fiber tube

With the maturity of carbon fiber technology and the advancement of industrial production, carbon fiber tube as a new high performance material came into being. Carbon fiber tube is made of carbon fiber composite material pre-immersed in styrene based polyester resin by heating curing pultrusion (twisting), which has a series of excellent properties such as light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance.

5. Expansion of the application field of carbon fiber tubes

Because of its unique performance advantages, carbon fiber tube has been widely used in aerospace, automotive industry, sports equipment, medical equipment, energy industry and other fields.

Aerospace: Used to manufacture aircraft fuselage, wing, tail and other structural parts to achieve lightweight design and improve flight performance.

Automotive industry: Used to manufacture body frame, drive shaft and other components, reduce body weight, improve fuel economy.

Sports equipment: such as golf clubs, bicycle frames, etc., to improve the performance and durability of equipment.

Medical devices: Used to manufacture prosthetics, medical devices, etc., to meet the special requirements of material properties in the medical field.

6. The future development trend of carbon fiber tube technology

With the continuous progress of material science and manufacturing technology, carbon fiber tubes will continue to develop towards higher performance, lower cost and wider applications in the future. Specific trends include:

Material performance improvement: By improving the preparation method and structural design, the strength, rigidity and durability of carbon fiber tubes are improved.

Manufacturing process optimization: The introduction of automated production technology and new manufacturing methods to improve production efficiency and reduce costs.

Development of multi-functional composite materials: conductive fibers and sensor components are integrated into carbon fiber tubes to give them additional properties such as conductivity and sensing functions.

Expansion of emerging fields: such as the energy industry, medical fields, etc., using the unique properties of carbon fiber tubes to develop new application products.

In summary, the history and development of carbon fiber tubes is the epitome of the continuous progress of carbon fiber technology and the continuous expansion of application fields. With the continuous maturity of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, carbon fiber tubes will continue to play an important role in the future.

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(5) Types and uses of carbon fiber tubes

From a professional point of view, carbon fiber tubes are widely used in many fields because of their excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and lightweight characteristics.

1. Carbon fiber tube type

1. 1 Classified by material composition

Pure carbon fiber tube: Made of pure carbon fiber, with high strength and stiffness, while having the advantage of lightweight. Commonly used in aerospace, sports equipment and other fields.

Carbon fiber composite pipe: made of carbon fiber and other materials (such as epoxy resin), the material ratio can be adjusted according to demand to obtain better performance. Widely used in machinery, automobile, construction and other fields.

1.2. Classification by manufacturing process

Coil carbon fiber tube: By winding carbon fiber on the mold, and then thermal curing treatment made of. With good strength and wear resistance, it is often used in aerospace, shipbuilding and other fields.

Stretching carbon fiber tube: The carbon fiber bundle is stretched and heated to form a tubular structure. With high strength and stiffness, it is often used in sports equipment, aerospace and other fields.

Injection carbon fiber tube: the carbon fiber is mixed with the resin and injected into the mold, and the heat curing treatment. With good surface finish and dimensional stability, it is often used in electronic products, auto parts and other fields.

Other forming methods: such as hand paste molding, die molding, etc., these methods have their own characteristics and are suitable for the production of carbon fiber tubes with different shapes and performance requirements.

1.3 Classification by appearance shape

Circular carbon fiber tube: Cylindrical in appearance, it is the most common shape of carbon fiber tube. Widely used in machinery, aerospace, sports equipment and other fields.

Square carbon fiber tube: The appearance is square or rectangular, with good torsional resistance. Commonly used in construction, Bridges and other fields.

Irregular carbon fiber tube: irregular appearance shape, according to the specific needs of the design and manufacture. It is commonly used in special scenarios, such as medical devices and ships.

2. Use of carbon fiber tube

2.1 Aerospace field

Because of its light weight and high strength, carbon fiber tube is widely used in the manufacture of aircraft, rockets and other aerospace equipment components, such as wings, tail fins, turbine blades and so on.

Its excellent mechanical properties help to improve the structural efficiency of the aircraft, reduce weight and increase load capacity.

2.2 Automobile Industry

In automobile manufacturing, carbon fiber tubes can be used to make parts such as the body, doors, luggage racks, and exhaust pipes.

Its lightweight features help reduce body weight and improve fuel economy while enhancing vehicle safety.

2.3 Sports Equipment

Carbon fiber tubes are also widely used in the field of sports equipment manufacturing, such as golf clubs, bicycle frames, skis, fishing rods and so on.

Its high strength, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and other characteristics make sports equipment more lightweight and durable.

2.4 Construction field

Carbon fiber tubes can be used to strengthen and repair concrete structures such as Bridges, tunnels, towers, etc.

Its light weight and high strength characteristics help to improve the carrying capacity of the building and extend the service life.

Carbon fiber tubes are also used in the transmission shaft of circuit board printing equipment, audio equipment, tents, building materials, kites, flying saucers, bow backs, electric aircraft and various toys and other fields.

With its corrosion resistance, heat resistance, fatigue resistance, vibration attenuation and other characteristics, to meet various special needs.

To sum up, carbon fiber tubes play an important role in many fields because of their diverse types and wide range of uses. With the continuous progress of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, the market prospect of carbon fiber tubes will be broader.