Automobile Service Group

Carbon fiber is a popular choice to replace woods and metals with stronger plastics. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer is light and strong with comparable tensile strength. There are a variety of ways to make use of carbon fiber, as with any other manufacturing material.

Many of the tips in this article will be well-known to experienced fabricators. But if you are new to the world of carbon fiber The four suggestions listed here are particularly vital. Knowing how to use carbon fiber is as important as designing the parts you are hoping to build.

1. Be careful

The carbon fiber parts manufacturing are extremely robust and durable. Still, they can be damaged with improper handling. We always advise customers to handle their materials with care. For example, carbon fiber fabric should be stored in the original container until ready to utilize it. If you don't utilize all the material in one time then put the material you did not want to reuse back into the original package.

This is the way to ensure that your material is kept clean. Fabrication is more difficult if the material gets dirty. The risk of loose fibers flying around is reduced by keeping the fabric and panels dry within their containers. Keep loose fibers to an absolute minimum.

2. Practice Proper Storage Techniques

Next up, carbon fibers need to be kept in a certain manner. It is crucial to keep dry materials from drying in direct sunlight. Dry substances should be kept in cool, dark places. Prepregs should be stored in accordance with the instructions on the package.

Prepregs are carbon fiber fabrics which are factory-made and already impregnated with epoxy resin. To guarantee the longest shelf-life, they must be kept in a cool environment. They should be stored in cool storage until the time you're ready to start the layup process manually. The resin will start to act when they are allowed to warm up.

3. Wear Personal Protective Equipment

If you're actually setting up or machining carbon fiber materials, you must wear personal protective equipment. The job you're performing will determine what equipment you need. If doing a manual layup for example, you will require eye protection as well as nitrile gloves at bare minimum. We recommend wearing a mask too. Make sure you have adequate airflow to avoid being overwhelmed by the fumes.

Cutting or machining carbon fiber pieces requires protective eyewear, heavy duty work gloves, and a mask. The use of apron and smock can prevent fibers from getting inside your clothing.

4. Cleaning up afterwards

After handling, you will be required to clean your hands composite parts manufacturing. Avoid simply brushing the skin with fibers and then scrubbing them off as this can cause tiny pieces to be trapped in your skin. Warm soap and water are more effective options to wash away the debris.

In the event you accidentally receive a patch of the substance on your skin do not attempt to peel it off. Instead, use a towel or cotton swap to soak the area in vinegar. The vinegar will soften the resin and help it remove. Acetate is also a good choice.

You can ask any member of our team during purchase if you have any concerns regarding the safe handling of carbon fiber items. We're here to assist you with the carbon fiber fabrication questions you may have.