Carbon Fiber Yarn, Chopped Fiber & Powder Guide
Compare carbon fiber yarn, chopped fiber, and powder for weaving, molding compounds, wear-resistant materials, and industrial composite applications.
Beyond woven fabrics and non-woven mats, carbon fiber is also supplied in raw material formats — yarn (continuous tow), short cut fiber (chopped strands), and powder (milled fiber). These raw materials serve as feedstock for compounding, molding, additive manufacturing, and specialty composite processes where pre-formed fabrics are not suitable.
We manufacture and supply all three carbon fiber raw material formats, enabling customers to source continuous tow for weaving or filament winding, chopped fiber for injection molding compounds, and milled powder for friction materials and coatings — all from a single qualified supplier.
Our Carbon Fiber Raw Material Products
| Product | Format | Grades Available | Primary Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Fiber Yarn | Continuous tow on bobbin | T300 3K, T300 6K, T700 12K | Weaving, filament winding, pultrusion, braiding |
| Short Cut Carbon Fiber | Chopped strands (3–12mm) | Standard modulus | Modified plastics, EMI shielding compounds, BMC/SMC |
| Carbon Fiber Powder | Milled fiber (50–200μm) | Standard modulus | Composite filler, friction materials, wear resistance |
All products are manufactured from PAN-based (polyacrylonitrile) carbon fiber precursor, ensuring consistent quality and mechanical properties.
Carbon Fiber Yarn (Continuous Tow)
Carbon fiber yarn is the fundamental building block of all carbon fiber reinforcements. It consists of thousands of continuous carbon filaments (each ~7μm diameter) bundled together into a tow and wound onto bobbins for downstream processing.
Available Grades and Specifications
| Grade | Tow Size | Tensile Modulus | Tensile Strength | Density | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T300 3K | 3,000 filaments | 230 GPa | 3530 MPa | 1.76 g/cm³ | Fine woven cloth, decorative fabrics, precision parts |
| T300 6K | 6,000 filaments | 230 GPa | 3530 MPa | 1.76 g/cm³ | Medium-weight fabrics, braiding, general structural |
| T700 12K | 12,000 filaments | 230 GPa | 4900 MPa | 1.80 g/cm³ | High-strength structural, filament winding, pultrusion |
Key Differences: T300 vs T700
| Property | T300 | T700 |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 3530 MPa | 4900 MPa (+39%) |
| Tensile modulus | 230 GPa | 230 GPa (same) |
| Elongation at break | 1.5% | 2.1% |
| Cost | Standard | 20–40% premium |
| Availability | Widely stocked | Lead time may apply |
| Best for | General structural, decorative | High-performance structural, pressure vessels |
Selection guidance: Choose T300 for most applications — it offers excellent performance at standard cost and is the industry workhorse. Choose T700 when tensile strength is the critical design driver (pressure vessels, high-stress filament wound parts, aerospace primary structures).
Carbon Fiber Yarn Applications
- Weaving: Feedstock for producing woven carbon fiber cloth (our 200g twill and plain cloth is woven from T300 3K yarn)
- Filament winding: Pressure vessels, pipes, drive shafts, rocket motor casings
- Pultrusion: Continuous structural profiles, rebar, tendons
- Braiding: Tubes, shafts, and complex hollow structures
- Overbraiding: Reinforcement over mandrels or existing structures
- Towpreg/prepreg production: Impregnated tow for automated fiber placement (AFP)
Sizing and Compatibility
Carbon fiber yarn is supplied with a surface sizing (typically epoxy-compatible) that promotes adhesion to the matrix resin. Confirm sizing compatibility with your resin system:
- Epoxy sizing: Standard, compatible with epoxy and vinyl ester resins
- Polyamide sizing: For thermoplastic matrix composites (PA6, PA66)
- Unsized: For specialty applications requiring custom surface treatment
Short Cut Carbon Fiber (Chopped Strands)
Short cut carbon fiber consists of continuous carbon fiber tow chopped into controlled lengths (typically 3mm, 6mm, or 12mm). These chopped strands are used as reinforcement in compounded plastics, molding compounds, and specialty applications.
Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Fiber length | 3mm, 6mm, 12mm (custom lengths available) |
| Fiber diameter | 7 μm |
| Carbon content | ≥95% |
| Tensile strength | 3500+ MPa |
| Bulk density | 0.3–0.5 g/cm³ |
| Moisture content | <0.5% |
Applications for Chopped Carbon Fiber
Modified plastics and injection molding compounds
The largest application for short cut carbon fiber is reinforcing engineering thermoplastics:
- Carbon fiber reinforced PA (nylon) — 10–40% loading for automotive and industrial parts
- Carbon fiber reinforced PEEK — aerospace and medical implant components
- Carbon fiber reinforced PPS — chemical-resistant high-temperature parts
- Carbon fiber reinforced PC/ABS — consumer electronics housings with EMI shielding
Adding 20–30% chopped carbon fiber to engineering plastics typically delivers:
- 2–3× improvement in tensile strength
- 3–5× improvement in flexural modulus
- Significant weight reduction vs metal alternatives
- Inherent EMI shielding from conductive fiber network
EMI shielding compounds
Chopped carbon fiber creates a conductive network within plastic parts, providing EMI shielding without metal housings or coatings. At 15–25% loading, shielding effectiveness of 30–50 dB is achievable — sufficient for most consumer electronics and automotive EMC requirements.
BMC/SMC molding compounds
Short cut carbon fiber is used in bulk molding compound (BMC) and sheet molding compound (SMC) for compression-molded parts requiring higher performance than glass fiber compounds.
Concrete and cement reinforcement
Chopped carbon fiber (6–12mm) is added to concrete and cementitious materials to improve crack resistance, flexural strength, and electrical conductivity for heated floors or de-icing applications.
Fiber Length Selection Guide
| Length | Best For | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 3mm | Injection molding, thin-wall parts | Best flow, lowest reinforcement efficiency |
| 6mm | General compounding, BMC | Balanced flow and strength |
| 12mm | SMC, concrete, high-performance compounds | Highest strength, reduced flow |
Shorter fibers flow better in molds but provide less reinforcement. Longer fibers give better mechanical properties but can cause flow issues in thin sections or complex geometries.
Carbon Fiber Powder (Milled Fiber)
Carbon fiber powder is produced by milling (grinding) carbon fiber into very short lengths (50–200μm), creating a fine powder-like material. Unlike chopped fiber which maintains fiber aspect ratio, milled fiber functions more as a particulate filler with some reinforcing capability.
Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Fiber length | 50–200 μm |
| Fiber diameter | 7 μm |
| Carbon content | ≥95% |
| Bulk density | 0.4–0.6 g/cm³ |
| Particle size distribution | Controlled, application-specific |
Applications for Carbon Fiber Powder
Friction materials and brake pads
Carbon fiber powder is widely used in automotive and industrial brake pad formulations:
- Improves thermal stability and fade resistance
- Reduces wear rate and extends pad life
- Provides consistent friction coefficient across temperature range
- Replaces asbestos in modern friction formulations
Wear-resistant coatings and compounds
- Self-lubricating bearing materials (PTFE + carbon fiber powder)
- Wear-resistant epoxy floor coatings for industrial facilities
- Anti-friction additives in gear and bearing compounds
Composite filler and modifier
- Thixotropic agent in adhesives and sealants
- Conductivity modifier in coatings and paints
- Reinforcing filler in potting compounds
- Thermal conductivity enhancement in electronic encapsulants
3D printing filament additive
Carbon fiber powder is added to FDM/FFF 3D printing filaments (PLA, PETG, nylon) to improve:
- Dimensional stability (reduced warping)
- Surface hardness and wear resistance
- Stiffness (10–20% improvement at 10–15% loading)
Choosing Between Yarn, Chopped Fiber, and Powder
| Requirement | Choose Yarn | Choose Chopped Fiber | Choose Powder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous reinforcement | Yes | No | No |
| Injection molding | No | Yes | Possible (filler only) |
| Maximum strength | Yes | Moderate | Minimal |
| EMI shielding in plastics | No | Yes (best) | Moderate |
| Friction/wear applications | No | Possible | Yes (best) |
| Filament winding | Yes | No | No |
| Compounding with thermoplastics | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cost per kg | Highest | Moderate | Lowest |
Quality Control and Certification
All our carbon fiber raw materials undergo:
- Tensile strength and modulus testing per ISO 10618
- Sizing content verification (TGA analysis)
- Moisture content testing
- Fiber diameter and density measurement
- Visual inspection for damage and contamination
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) provided with each shipment
For aerospace or military applications, we can provide material traceability documentation and test reports per customer specifications.
Next Step
Whether you need T300 3K yarn for weaving, T700 12K for filament winding, chopped fiber for injection molding compounds, or milled powder for friction materials — we supply the full range of carbon fiber raw materials. Review the complete carbon fiber product catalog, explore carbon fiber applications, or send your material requirements through the contact page. Sample quantities (1–5 kg) available for evaluation within 5–7 business days.
相关指南
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are standard-modulus PAN-based carbon fibers with 230 GPa tensile modulus. The key difference is tensile strength: T700 offers 4900 MPa vs T300's 3530 MPa — a 39% improvement. T700 also has higher elongation (2.1% vs 1.5%), making it more damage-tolerant. Choose T300 for general applications; choose T700 when maximum strength or fatigue resistance is critical.
Typical loading ranges are 10–40% by weight depending on the target properties: - 10–15%: Moderate stiffness improvement, good processability - 20–30%: Significant strength and stiffness gains, good EMI shielding - 30–40%: Maximum reinforcement, but reduced flow and increased tool wear Start with 20% for initial trials and adjust based on mechanical testing and moldability.
Not directly. Powder (50–200μm) has very low aspect ratio and provides minimal fiber reinforcement — it functions more as a filler. Chopped fiber (3–12mm) maintains high aspect ratio and provides true fiber reinforcement with 2–5× better mechanical property improvement. Use powder for friction, wear, and conductivity applications; use chopped fiber for structural reinforcement.
- **Carbon fiber yarn**: MOQ typically 10–50 kg per grade (1–5 bobbins depending on tow size) - **Short cut carbon fiber**: MOQ typically 25–50 kg per length specification - **Carbon fiber powder**: MOQ typically 25–50 kg For trial quantities, we can provide smaller samples (1–5 kg) for material evaluation. [Contact us](/contact) for specific availability.
Store all carbon fiber raw materials in sealed polyethylene bags at room temperature (15–25°C), away from UV light and moisture. Dry carbon fiber has indefinite shelf life when properly stored. Avoid contamination with oils, dust, or other fibers. For chopped fiber and powder, prevent moisture absorption which can affect compounding behavior.
Yes. Our T700 12K yarn is specifically suited for filament winding applications including pressure vessels, pipes, and structural tubes. The 12K tow size provides efficient coverage rates for winding, and T700's high tensile strength (4900 MPa) maximizes burst pressure in pressure vessel applications. We supply on standard bobbin formats compatible with common winding equipment.
Author
ZeYuSen Fiber Technical Team
Specializing in carbon fiber and glass fiber composite materials for aerospace, wind energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing. Our engineering team brings decades of combined experience in composite material selection, process optimization, and quality assurance.
本页目录
- Our Carbon Fiber Raw Material Products
- Carbon Fiber Yarn (Continuous Tow)
- Available Grades and Specifications
- Key Differences: T300 vs T700
- Carbon Fiber Yarn Applications
- Sizing and Compatibility
- Short Cut Carbon Fiber (Chopped Strands)
- Specifications
- Applications for Chopped Carbon Fiber
- Fiber Length Selection Guide
- Carbon Fiber Powder (Milled Fiber)
- Specifications
- Applications for Carbon Fiber Powder
- Choosing Between Yarn, Chopped Fiber, and Powder
- Quality Control and Certification
- Next Step