DragonPlate’s roll-wrapped twill carbon fiber square tubes are manufactured with the uni sandwiched between twill weave layers on the inside and outside surfaces of the tube. This construction provides better support for the uni layer, enhancing toughness and stability, particularly near the tube ends, and interfaces well with our modular connector. Outside finish is gloss.
Carbon fiber tube manufacturers often only include a twill layer on the outside of the tube, as this approach is less costly and easier to make, but provides less support to the inner surface of the uni layer. At DragonPlate, we consider this additional layer of twill to be worth the extra effort, as it yields higher-quality and more robust tubes for our customers.
Roll-wrapped twill finish square tubes are ideal for building lightweight frames and structures, tubular vessels, poles, column supports, and any other applications where low weight and high stiffness are essential, yet appearance is also important.
High-modulus options are available for these carbon fiber square tubes.
Three different unidirectional CF options are available in these tubes: 33 msi standard modulus (SM) PAN unidirectional carbon fiber, 57 msi high modulus (HM) PAN carbon fiber, and 110 msi ultra high modulus (UHM) Pitch carbon fiber. The benefit of the PAN carbon fiber is higher strength, whereas the pitch carbon fiber has higher stiffness, higher thermal conductivity, and lower thermal expansion (CTE nearly zero). Depending on the application, both are excellent options. For example, if the part requires maximum strength, then the standard modulus material would be the best choice. If additional stiffness is required, but the component must still retain most of the high-strength properties, then the high-modulus PAN carbon fiber is the better choice. If, however, the loads are low, for example, in many automation and robotics applications, the ultra-high modulus Pitch fiber can substantially increase the stiffness of a part. Properly designed, a carbon fiber part made from DragonPlate UHM carbon fiber can be stiffer than one made from steel, yet weigh less than one-fifth the weight.
Although more expensive than our other carbon fiber options, DragonPlate HM and UHM carbon fiber tubes provide an opportunity for unprecedented weight savings, particularly in applications where minimum weight and deflection are critical. DragonPlate HM tubes are about 50% stiffer than aluminum, whereas the UHM tubes are as rigid as steel.
Since UHM carbon fiber material has certain export restrictions, customers are required to fill out a short form detailing the end use. Both the customer and the application will need to be vetted before the product can ship. Please fill-out the PDF form to the left and fax or email it back to us if you have ordered the UHM option.