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Advanced Carbon Fiber Engineering & Manufacturing
Engineered. Tested. Trusted.
Scroll to follow the processA Practical Guide to Selecting Carbon Fiber Tubing
We combine carbon fiber with a proprietary resin system to create lightweight structural tubes. This carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) can be tailored through its laminate architecture and tube geometry to suit the application.
Start selection with the job the tube must perform.
Identify the loading. Tension, compression, bending, and torsion place different demands on a composite tube. Our stock construction primarily emphasizes axial stiffness, with an outer reinforcing layer providing complementary off-axis support. Applications dominated by torque may benefit from a different winding configuration.
Choose the dimensions together. Inside diameter controls clearance for inserts, wiring, or mating components. Outside diameter affects mounting compatibility and structural stiffness. Nominal wall thickness is half the difference between OD and ID. For example, a 0.750-inch ID × 0.990-inch OD tube has a nominal 0.120-inch wall.
Account for length and supports. A tube that performs well over a short span may deflect excessively over a longer one. Compression members also require a buckling assessment. Mounting conditions and end connections are part of that evaluation.
Distinguish stiffness from strength. Modulus describes resistance to elastic deformation; strength describes a failure limit under a particular loading and test method. A flexural test result does not establish tensile, compressive, or torsional design allowables.
Check the operating environment and connections. Consider temperature, moisture, repeated loading, electrical conductivity, and contact with metals. Use dimensional tolerances when designing fits rather than assuming nominal dimensions guarantee clearance.
Select a stock tube by matching its dimensions and construction to the application. If the requirements extend beyond the available data or sizes, Reaction Composites can assist with laminate selection, prototyping, and application-specific verification.