Thermoplastic Carbon Fiber
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Thermoplastic Carbon Fiber
Product detail
Thermoplastic carbon fiber composites are high-performance composite materials made by heating and fusing carbon fiber reinforcements with thermoplastic resin matrices (such as PEEK, PEKK, PPS, PA, PEI, etc.). Compared with traditional thermosetting carbon fibers, they have better processing and molding properties, repeatable heating and processing capabilities, and higher impact toughness.
Basic composition
| Ingredients | Description |
| Carbon fiber | High strength, high modulus, as a reinforcing phase, improve the mechanical properties of the material |
| Thermoplastic resin | Such as PEEK, PEKK, PPS, PA, PEI, etc., as a matrix, relatively thermosetting resin can be repeatedly heated and molded |
Main features
✅ 1. Repeatable heating and molding
Thermoplastic materials soften after heating and can be repeatedly processed and hot-pressed;
The processing cycle is short, suitable for automated continuous production (such as hot pressing, laser welding, automatic layering).
✅ 2. High toughness and impact resistance
It has better impact resistance than thermosetting carbon fiber composites;
It is especially suitable for occasions with high requirements for crash resistance such as automobiles, aviation, and sports equipment.
✅ 3. Chemical corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance
For example, PEEK and PEKK matrix materials can withstand high temperatures of 200~300°C;
It is highly resistant to acid, alkali, oil, and solvent corrosion, and is suitable for extreme environments.
✅ 4. Recyclable
Thermoplastic matrix can be re-melted at high temperatures, which is beneficial to environmental protection and resource recycling;
It is of great significance for sustainable manufacturing and the trend of “green composite materials”.
Common thermoplastic resin matrix materials
| Resin type | Detailed name | Melting point range | Features |
| PEEK | Polyetheretherketone | 340℃ | High strength, chemical resistance, high temperature resistance |
| PEKK | Polyetherketoneketone | 300~360℃ | Superior dimensional stability than PEEK |
| PPS | Polyphenylene sulfide | 280℃ | Excellent chemical stability and electrical properties |
| PA | Polyamide (nylon) | 210℃ | Low cost, fast molding, good toughness |
| PEI | Polyetherimide | 215℃ | Excellent dimensional stability, heat resistance |
Typical product form
- Thermoplastic prepreg (TP prepreg)
- Thermoplastic tape (Thermoplastic tape)
- Thermoplastic woven fabric/non-woven fabric
- Automatic layering sheet (ATP tow, UD tape)
- Molded parts (molded by heating)
Application Areas
| Industry | Application examples |
| Aerospace | Aircraft structural parts, seat supports, avionics housings, UAV fuselage parts |
| Automotive industry | Crash structural parts, seat frames, battery housings, door beams, instrument panel supports |
| Railway transportation | Lightweight interior panels, equipment boxes, cable channels |
| Sports equipment | Bicycle racks, tennis rackets, skis, golf club shafts, trekking poles |
| Electronic equipment | Laptop housings, mobile phone holders, heat dissipation frames |
Thermoplastic vs Thermoset Carbon Fiber Comparison
| Features | Thermoplastic carbon fiber | Thermosetting carbon fiber |
| Molding cycle | Fast (a few minutes) | Slow (usually takes several hours) |
| Recyclability | Can be melted and reprocessed | Not recyclable |
| Impact resistance | High | Medium |
| Thermal stability | High | High |
| Process complexity | More suitable for automated molding | More suitable for complex parts such as hand lay-up and RTM |
| Application trends | Emerging growth | Mature application |
Development trend
Suitable for mass production: Industries with high cost and cycle requirements such as automobiles and drones are beginning to turn to thermoplastics;
Green manufacturing and recycling: Promote recyclable thermoplastic composites to gradually replace non-recyclable thermosetting composites;
Combined with automation: Thermoplastic materials are more suitable for intelligent manufacturing technologies such as robot automatic laying and laser welding.
