DragonPlate offers a wide variety of carbon fiber composites. Our carbon fiber sheets and plates are multiple laminations of carbon in an epoxy matrix. No matter what your application, DragonPlate has the right composite sheets and plates for your needs. We offer sheets as large as 48" x 96" and thicknesses up to 1 1/2 inches!
What is the difference between a carbon fiber sheet and a carbon fiber plate?
Both terms can apply to carbon fiber. The term sheet implies a thin light material like a sheet of paper, where plate implies a heavy thick material like a 3/4 inch steel plate. We feel that sheet is more appropriate for carbon fiber because carbon fiber is typically lightweight and is typically used in thin sections due to its tremendous strength. On the other hand, we produce 1 ½ in carbon fiber that would definitely be considered plate. Both terms appear on our website because people will use them interchangeably.
Contact us to discuss what carbon fiber plate is best for your application.
DragonPlate High-quality, Affordable Sheets and Plates
EconomyPlate™
These carbon fiber plates are comprised of orthotropic (non-quasi-isotropic) laminates utilizing a twill weave at 0°/90° orientation, while maintaining a symmetrical and balanced laminate. They are textured on one side to facilitate bonding and offer a gloss, matte, or textured finish on the other side. Most thicknesses also offer a choice of face sheet material on the finished side.
Quasi-isotropic Plate
For more demanding applications, these laminated carbon fiber sheets utilize balanced and symmetrical lay-up schedules of 0°/90°/45° fabric referred to as quasi-isotropic. The addition of 45° lay-up produces a plate that is more rigid in that axis. Additional face sheet options are available in the largest sheet sizes.
Prepreg Plates
Dragonplate prepreg carbon fiber sheets are our stiffest and strongest flat composite material option for structural applications where minimum weight is essential. Depending on the product, these sheets are made from uni-directional prepreg and/or twill prepreg fabrics. These carbon fiber plates are manufactured under heated pressure, producing a plate with reduced voids and higher temperature specifications. These sheets are also available with stiffer high-modulus fibers and high-temperature epoxy.
What sheet finishes are available and what do they look like?
DragonPlate sheets are available in gloss, matte, satin and texture finishes. See each product for options. We have created a comparison of DragonPlate Finishes image that shows the differences
What does quasi-isotropic mean?
Quasi-isotropic refers to a layup of individual carbon fiber laminates such that the final composite material has approximately equal stiffness and strength properties in all directions. If only 0 and 90 degree carbon fiber layers are used, the laminate is cheaper to manufacture, but weak along the 45 degree diagonal. DragonPlate utilizes 45-degree diagonal laminate layers to improve quasi-isotropy. For the majority of typical applications, quasi-isotropic carbon fiber has superior performance. For further discussion of this topic, please see the Carbon Fiber Sheets page.
How do you recommend cutting DragonPlate carbon fiber sheets? Is there any safety gear that I should use?
DragonPlate carbon fiber laminates are pre-cut to the specified sizes or slightly oversized. The sheets are easily cut to final shape using a bandsaw, coping saw, drill, or dremmel tool. Recommended precautions include wearing safety glasses, a dust respirator, and protective clothing when cutting, sanding or drilling, to limit exposure to the dust, which is an irritant.
Do you offer custom cutting of your carbon fiber sheets?