Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a material composed of carbon fibres and a plastic matrix.
Carbon fibres have been produced industrially since the 1970s and used as reinforcing fibres in plastics. They are made up of over 90 % pure carbon.
They have an exceptionally high modulus of elasticity. This makes carbon reinforced plastic ideal for applications where stiffness and strength are of paramount importance. At the same time, CFRP plastic is also characterised by its low weight compared to steel, which is almost four times heavier.
Unlike glass and aramid fibre reinforced plastics which offer excellent electrical insulation, carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic is electrically conductive. However, unless the carbon compound has been specifically designed for electrically active applications, carbon fibre reinforced materials should not be assumed to have constant conductivity. Compared to glass fibres, carbon fibre reinforcement is ideal for sliding friction and low-friction applications. Their properties support sliding movements and provide significantly improved abrasion resistance.
Ensinger offers a wide range of different carbon fibre reinforced plastics. In addition to carbon fibre reinforced semi-finished products, filaments and compounds, Ensinger also offers continuous fibre-reinforced sheets, organosheets, semi-pregs and prepregs as part of our composite product line.
