Carbon fibre is becoming a popular polymer material choice within the advanced manufacturing and medical industries, but what exactly is carbon fibre and why is having a temperature-controlled environment important?
Defining Carbon Fibre
Estimated to be five times stronger than steel and twice as stiff, carbon fibre is created by heating long strands of fibre at very high temperatures through both chemical and mechanical processes.
This material is highly popular due to its combination of strength and light weight, allowing products to become lighter without sacrificing safety or performance. For instance, incorporating carbon fibre into cars can reduce their weight by as much as 50%, improving fuel efficiency and increasing speed.
Carbon Fibre in Industry
The composite is used in an array of industries that require a strong and lightweight material. Most commonly, the composite will be used in the following sectors:
- Civil Engineering
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Medical
- Defence
In these fields, carbon fibre can be found in drones, bike frames, aircraft wings, drive shafts, tubing, containers, propeller blades and structural car components.
While its use in medicine is more niche, carbon fibre plays a vital role in applications such as prosthetics, surgical tools, implants and even medical imaging equipment like X-ray and MRI machines, where its non-magnetic and radiolucent properties are essential.
Carbon Fibre and Freezer Stores
The production cycle of carbon fibre requires various temperature zones, from freezing to boiling temperatures. But when exactly do freezer stores come into play?
Freezer stores are essential during the pre-preg (pre-impregnated) production stage, where the material must be stored at around -20°C in a freezer.
Pre-preg refers to fibres that have been impregnated with resin but have not yet undergone full curing (hardening). In this uncured state, the material can still be cut, shaped and handled.
If stored at room temperature, the resin would cure too quickly, reducing its shelf life to just a few weeks. However, when kept frozen, it can remain usable for up to a year.
Another key advantage of carbon fibre is its low thermal expansion. This means it maintains its shape and size, even when exposed to temperature fluctuations, making it highly reliable in a variety of environments.
The Future Of Carbon Fibre
Although the material can’t simply be melted and remoulded to be reused in new products, research is continuously ongoing to find ways to shorten the carbon fibre waste’s life to reduce landfill.
Emerging technologies like 3D printing with carbon fibre-infused materials are also being tested. However, these printed composites often lack the same strength as traditionally woven carbon fibre, since much of its mechanical strength comes from its directional weave and fibre alignment.
The automotive industry is leading the way in adopting recycled carbon fibre, driven by the industry’s environmental and carbon emission goals. Aerospace and renewable energy sectors have also begun experimenting with recycled carbon fibre to support more sustainable innovation.
In need of the design and build of a freezer store for your pre-preg carbon fibre?
Stancold’s team of experts has extensive experience in freezer store solutions for the composite material and we are eager to discuss your upcoming project requirements.
Please feel free to get in touch:
📞 0117 316 7000
📧 info@stancold.co.uk
