What are carbon fiber tubes used for

Tubular structures can be used in a variety of applications. It is therefore not surprising that the unique properties of carbon fiber tubes make them in high demand across many industries. Today, carbon fiber tubes are increasingly replacing steel, titanium or aluminum tubes in applications where weight is an important factor. At only 1/3 the weight of aluminum tubes, it’s no wonder that carbon fiber tubes are often the first choice in industries such as aerospace, performance vehicles and sports equipment, where weight is a key factor.

Carbon fiber tube performance
Some of the unique properties of carbon fiber tubes over tubes made of other materials include:

High strength-to-weight ratio and stiffness-to-weight ratio
Fatigue resistance
Very low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) ensures dimensional stability
Carbon fiber tube characteristics
Carbon fiber tubes are typically made into round, square, or rectangular shapes, but they can be machined into almost any shape, including ovals or ovals, octagons, hexagons, or custom shapes. Coiled prepreg carbon fiber tubes are composed of multiple layers of twill and/or unidirectional carbon fiber fabric. Coiled tubing is ideal for applications requiring high bending stiffness and low weight.

Alternatively, braided carbon fiber tubes are made from a combination of carbon fiber braid and unidirectional carbon fiber fabric. Braided tubing has excellent torsional characteristics and compressive strength, making it ideal for high-torque applications. Large diameter carbon fiber tubes are typically made using rolled bidirectional braided carbon fiber. By combining the right fibers, fiber orientation and manufacturing processes, carbon fiber tubes can be produced with the right properties for any application.

Other features that may vary by application include:

Materials – Tubes can be made from standard, medium, high or ultra-high modulus carbon fiber.
Diameter – The diameter of carbon fiber tubes can range from very small to large. Custom ID and OD specifications available to meet specific needs. They are available in fractional and metric sizes.
Tapering – Carbon fiber tubes can be tapered to increase stiffness along their length.
Wall Thickness – Prepreg carbon fiber tubes can be manufactured to virtually any wall thickness by combining layers of various prepreg thicknesses.
Length – Coiled carbon fiber tubes are available in a variety of standard lengths and custom lengths are also available. If the required tube length is longer than recommended, multiple tubes can be joined using internal fittings to create a longer tube.
Exterior (and sometimes interior) – Pre-preg carbon fiber tubes typically have a cello-wrapped gloss finish, but a smooth sanded finish is also available. Braided carbon fiber tubes typically have a wet, shiny finish. They can also be cello-wrapped for a smoother surface, or a peel-ply texture can be added for better bonding. Large diameter carbon fiber tubes are textured on the inside and outside to allow both surfaces to be bonded or painted.
Exterior Materials – Using pre-preg carbon fiber tubes allows for a choice of different exterior layers. In some cases, this can also allow customers to choose exterior colors.
Carbon fiber tube applications
Carbon fiber tubes can be used in many tubular applications. Some common current uses include:

Robotics and Automation
telescopic pole
Measuring instruments
Idler
Drone components
telescope
light drum
industrial machinery
guitar neck
Aerospace applications
Formula 1 racing parts
Carbon fiber tubes' light weight, superior strength and stiffness, coupled with a wide range of customizable options ranging from manufacturing processes to shapes, lengths, diameters, and sometimes even color options, allow them to be used in numerous applications across many industries. The uses for carbon fiber tubes are really only limited by your imagination!