Carbon fibre tube can be used to replace or substitute aluminium or steel tubes in a wide range of projects. Their superior mechanical properties mean that tubes of the same weight as an aluminium or steel tube can be much stronger, or that tubes of the same strength can be much lighter.
This tube is manufactured using unidirectional prepreg carbon fibre oriented to provide maximum strength in the lateral (length-ways) axis but the use of prepreg reinforcement oriented at 90° also ensures that the tube has good crush-strength; ideal for real-world applications.
The use of unidirectional fibres and maximum strength in the lateral axis does mean that the tube is not strong across its diameter as it is along its length so should be used in such a way as to avoid unnecessary crushing forces across the tube.
Further Information
Roll Wrapping
The phrase "roll wrapped" refers to the process used to manufacture these tubes. The prepreg carbon fibre is first laid up around a mandrel in multiple layers. Once the reinforcement is in place it is spiral wrapped with heat-shrink tape (this is what gives roll-wrapped tubes their characteristic ribbed appearance) before the whole assembly is oven cured.
Roll wrapped carbon fibre tubes offer superior strength in general use to "pultruded" tubes (which have all their fibres running in exactly the same direction). This is because forces on a tube are rarely exclusively in straight compression or tension, whereby the unidirectional fibres of a pultruded tube are not ideal.
How to Cut and Shape
This carbon fibre tube can easily be cut and finished using simple workshop tools like a hacksaw and some wet-and-dry paper. Cutting and finishing a carbon fibre tube can also be perfectly safe if you follow some basic safety precautions.
For a comprehensive guide to both safety advice and cutting and finishing techniques watch our video guide to cutting and shaping carbon fibre sheet and carbon fibre parts.
Mechanical Properties & Specification
Our roll wrapped carbon fibre tubes are manufactured from unidirectional prepreg carbon fibre oriented at 0° (down the length of the tube) and Crush/burst strength is provided by additional unidirectional prepreg carbon fibre oriented at 90° (around the section of the tube).
