RENNZPORT has brought in some Carbon Fiber products that are Dry Carbon. Very often, some clients confuse it or not aware of what it really is. Some actually think that the term Dry Carbon means the look doesn't have that glossy finish and this couldn't be further from the truth.
Below is article I got from the net which I found explains it the best.
"If you’re a car fanatic, you’ve definitely seen this material everywhere from accents to interior features. Outside of cars, carbon fiber is commonly seen in bicycle helmets and pocket knives as well.
Many people see carbon fiber as a particularly futuristic, 21st century material, but it actually has its origins in the mid-19th century, back when Thomas Edison’s predecessors were trying to find the right material with which to make a lightbulb filament. Since then they’ve become an indispensable material in our post-industrial world.
Now, because carbon fiber is so common in cars these days, it’s important for any detailer to know the difference between the two kinds of carbon fiber, their various properties, and how to properly maintain them. So in this blog, we’ll break down what makes wet carbon fiber wet, what makes dry carbon fiber dry, how they match up, and how to maintain them. Let’s get into it.
Wet Carbon Fiber
In our last blog on the topic, we suggested that wet carbon fiber gets its name from its glossy, “wet” appearance. In fact, the “wet” moniker refers to its manufacturing process, by which the carbon fiber is coated in liquid resin before being vacuum sealed to cure.
Typically, a dry carbon fiber cloth is placed into a mold which has been coated with resin. Then, another layer of resin is coated on top of the cloth. Then the cloth and resin are sealed into a vacuum. The vacuum’s pressure impregnates the resin into the cloth, basically encasing it within the resin and giving it the sturdy structure most people associate with carbon fiber. This process leaves the fiber with a glossy appearance, however this can be altered by using a matte lay-up or sandpapering.
Dry Carbon Fiber
Dry carbon fiber’s name also comes from its manufacturing process. During manufacture, dry carbon fiber has its resin pre-impregnated, that is, literally built into the fiber. Since no resin is being directly applied, the fiber is “dry”.
Pre-impregnated fiber is called “pre-preg” in the carbon fiber industry. The pre-preg fiber is placed in an autoclave to cure at high pressure and heat, which removes impurities and strengthens the material. Because the resin is baked in rather than applied on top, the fiber generally comes out looking flat rather than glossy. However, this look can be altered by applying a glossy layer of gel coat.
Comparing The Two
Now that we’ve broken down the definitions of wet and dry carbon fiber, let’s see how they match up in different categories.
COST
Wet: Less expensive – production requires less costly equipment
Dry: More expensive – prepreg fiber costs more to produce, and the need for an autoclave also ramps up costs
STRENGTH
Wet: Weaker – the wet process has a greater potential for air bubbles and wavy fiber weaves, which reduces strength
Dry: Stronger – the autoclave process eliminates air bubbles and other impurities, strengthening it significantly
WEIGHT
Wet: Heavier – applying resin rather than pre-impregnating it results in a greater weight
Dry: Lighter – pre-preg fiber weighs up to 70% less
QUALITY
Wet: Lower – it’s less strong, heavier
Dry: Higher – it’s much stronger and much lighter"
Sited from DrBEASLEYS.com
Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk
Below is article I got from the net which I found explains it the best.
"If you’re a car fanatic, you’ve definitely seen this material everywhere from accents to interior features. Outside of cars, carbon fiber is commonly seen in bicycle helmets and pocket knives as well.
Many people see carbon fiber as a particularly futuristic, 21st century material, but it actually has its origins in the mid-19th century, back when Thomas Edison’s predecessors were trying to find the right material with which to make a lightbulb filament. Since then they’ve become an indispensable material in our post-industrial world.
Now, because carbon fiber is so common in cars these days, it’s important for any detailer to know the difference between the two kinds of carbon fiber, their various properties, and how to properly maintain them. So in this blog, we’ll break down what makes wet carbon fiber wet, what makes dry carbon fiber dry, how they match up, and how to maintain them. Let’s get into it.
Wet Carbon Fiber
In our last blog on the topic, we suggested that wet carbon fiber gets its name from its glossy, “wet” appearance. In fact, the “wet” moniker refers to its manufacturing process, by which the carbon fiber is coated in liquid resin before being vacuum sealed to cure.
Typically, a dry carbon fiber cloth is placed into a mold which has been coated with resin. Then, another layer of resin is coated on top of the cloth. Then the cloth and resin are sealed into a vacuum. The vacuum’s pressure impregnates the resin into the cloth, basically encasing it within the resin and giving it the sturdy structure most people associate with carbon fiber. This process leaves the fiber with a glossy appearance, however this can be altered by using a matte lay-up or sandpapering.
Dry Carbon Fiber
Dry carbon fiber’s name also comes from its manufacturing process. During manufacture, dry carbon fiber has its resin pre-impregnated, that is, literally built into the fiber. Since no resin is being directly applied, the fiber is “dry”.
Pre-impregnated fiber is called “pre-preg” in the carbon fiber industry. The pre-preg fiber is placed in an autoclave to cure at high pressure and heat, which removes impurities and strengthens the material. Because the resin is baked in rather than applied on top, the fiber generally comes out looking flat rather than glossy. However, this look can be altered by applying a glossy layer of gel coat.
Comparing The Two
Now that we’ve broken down the definitions of wet and dry carbon fiber, let’s see how they match up in different categories.
COST
Wet: Less expensive – production requires less costly equipment
Dry: More expensive – prepreg fiber costs more to produce, and the need for an autoclave also ramps up costs
STRENGTH
Wet: Weaker – the wet process has a greater potential for air bubbles and wavy fiber weaves, which reduces strength
Dry: Stronger – the autoclave process eliminates air bubbles and other impurities, strengthening it significantly
WEIGHT
Wet: Heavier – applying resin rather than pre-impregnating it results in a greater weight
Dry: Lighter – pre-preg fiber weighs up to 70% less
QUALITY
Wet: Lower – it’s less strong, heavier
Dry: Higher – it’s much stronger and much lighter"
Sited from DrBEASLEYS.com
Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk
