How to Stop Carbon Fibre Cloth from Fraying and Distorting

Before stabilising the fabric, cover the area with some release film to prevent the fabric accidentally sticking to the work area.

You will need carbon fibre shears and FUSIONFIX™ EP Epoxy Super Clear Spray Adhesive and the carbon fabric requiring stabilisation which cures to a tack free state.

The stabilisation process is great for maintaining the fabrics shape during handling.

The process is very straightforward. Simply roll the fabric out onto the protective release film.

Holding the can of FUSIONFIX™ EP approximately 30cm (12") above the fabric, apply a light even mist over the entire piece.

For a more substantial stabilisation - similar to pre-stabilised fabrics like ProFinish – apply the light coat as before, then apply a second coat perpendicular to the first. This will ensure an even coverage of the entire fabric.

Once coated the fabric should be left for 20 minutes for the solvent to evaporate.

The fabric has lost all of its tack but the fabric is still quite soft and malleable which is a great time to work with it if you require the fabric to drape on compound curves and shapes.

The light coat has had a subtle stabilising effect, making the fabric that bit easier to handle. However, the weave can still be accidentally distorted and cut edges will still fray and come loose. The stabilisation wouldn’t be enough to allow for crisp cuts and joins. But it is a nice level of stabilisation if you’re working with compound curves and it still retains a good level of conformability of the dry fabric.

The more heavily coated fabric is noticeably more stable. This is much easier to handle without getting distortion and cuts cleanly with the edges much less likely to fray or come loose.

Although this more heavily coated fabric is quite robust at the 20 minute mark before being fully dried, it does still have some movement and will conform with some encouragement around compound curves and shapes.

As the adhesive continues to dry it will get slightly stiffer, so leaving the fabric for several hours can be the best option if you require a locked in weave for flatter panels and achieving sharp cuts and joins.

Stabilisation won’t always be the best option for the fabric used in your project as it will reduce the drapability of the cloth, making it harder to conform to compound curves.

It's recommended to experiment and work out when it’s the best option to stabilise the fabric and when it’s better to leave the cloth dry for different applications.