Carbon Fiber Tube

When choosing hiking poles, there are several factors to consider that can impact your hiking experience:Weight:The weight of the hiking poles is an important factor to consider, especially for long-distance hikes. Carbon fiber poles are known for their lightweight properties, making them an excellent choice for reducing fatigue during long hikes. However, aluminum poles are also a good choice for their durability and ability to withstand rough conditions without breaking or snapping.Durability:Durability is another important consideration for hiking poles, as they need to withstand rugged terrain and heavy use. Aluminum poles are known for their durability and can handle rough conditions without easily breaking or snapping. Carbon fiber poles, while generally strong and durable, can be more fragile and prone to cracking or splintering under extreme stress.Shock Absorption:Shock absorption is an essential feature for hiking poles, as it can reduce strain on your joints and muscles. Carbon fiber poles tend to offer better shock absorption compared to aluminum poles. The natural damping properties of carbon fiber can absorb more impact, providing a softer feel while hiking and reducing stress on your body.Price:Budget is always a consideration when purchasing hiking gear. Carbon fiber poles are generally more expensive compared to aluminum poles. If you're on a budget, aluminum poles may be a more affordable option. However, you should keep in mind that cheaper hiking poles may not be as durable or as feature-rich as more expensive options.Rigidity:Rigidity refers to the stiffness of hiking poles. Carbon fiber poles are known for their high stiffness and minimal flex, providing better stability on uneven terrain. Aluminum poles may have a bit more flex, which could be a consideration for hikers who prefer a more flexible feel.Climate:The climate you hike in can also impact your choice of hiking poles. Carbon fiber poles can perform better in colder climates as they do not conduct heat like aluminum poles. This can make carbon fiber poles more comfortable to handle in cold weather, as they won’t feel as cold to the touch. Aluminum poles may feel colder in chilly conditions, which can be a consideration if you hike in colder climates frequently.Appearance:While aesthetics may not be the primary consideration for many hikers, the appearance of hiking poles can still be a factor for some. Carbon fiber poles are often praised for their sleek and modern appearance, with their glossy finish and futuristic look. Aluminum poles, on the other hand, tend to have a more traditional appearance with their metallic finish.Ultimately, the best hiking pole for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. Consider factors such as weight, durability, shock absorption, price, rigidity, climate, and appearance when making your decision. Additionally, it's also important to look for features such as adjustable length, pack-down size, grip material, grip ergonomics, and reliable locking mechanisms to further enhance your comfort and performance on the trail.

i want you to know these 3 things to maybe calm yourself from whatever situation you are in 1.) fiberglass is cleanable (it just takes some work) 2.) once you rid of the source the leftover fibers are only decreasing from that point on out 3.) a little exposure to these fibers will cause skin irritation and chest irritation.. but this is most often temporary. assuming you aren’t talking about an attic and you are talking about your house or room: step 1:grab a n-95 mask, gloves, tyvek suit, or long sleeve with pants, and get rid of the source that is cause the contamination if it is furniture or a bed contained in one room, make sure you find a way to cover the furniture completely in a bag before dragging it out of your house. if the bed can fit out the window, try to chuck it out of the window to save trips around your house. step 2: take whatever clothes, sheets, etc. you want to keep, put them in a trash bag, tie it TIGHT and bring them to your washer and dryer step 3: prepare your room or full house for a MASSIVE cleaning spree (clear room of objects on floor, get rid of things you don’t want to keep) step 4: VACCUM VACCUM VACCUM. MAKE SURE YOUR VACCUM IS A HEPA FILTER Vaccum.. wait for the dust to settle, vaccum again, wait for the dust to settle, and on and on do this about 4–5 times. i’m assuming the particles will take about 10–15 minutes to fully fall after vacuuming step 5: after you are done vacuuming make sure you clean off all surfaces and objects you’d like to keep (the reason behind doing surfaces last is the same reason we wait for the particle to fall before vacuuming again.. if we were to clean surfaces first the dust would just be in the air and land on everything we just cleaned. step 6 (optional): repeat steps 4 and 5 over again step 7: make sure your clothes you used to clean/vaccum are put in a plastic trash bag to wash, don’t drag it through the house. step 8: when you shower start with cold water, this will close the pores and ensure that the fiber fall off you when cleaning so start cold for 5–10 min and then use light soap and cold water, then you can move to warm water and regular soap. (you will need to do this for about a week) step 9: when you wash your clothes you most likely are going to have fibers in the clothes that were in your room or house etc. the best way to rid of these fibers is one of two ways: run a load through the wash with cold water (no detergent) (this shrinks fibers) and then dry. after that load is dry throw it back into the washer and run it through with HOT water and detergent. option two is to take your clothes and soak them with apple cider vinegar, this helps dissolve fibers and make them less pointy, and then throw them in the washer with cold water first the hot water. step 10: make sure you are airing out your room as much as possible after cleaning your room, make sure to continue to wash it down at a normal intensity weekly, this means vacuuming 2 times a week, wiping down surfaces 2 times a week. if you have the money i recommend getting a HEPA air filter AFTER you have done the cleaning process and run it 24/7 while you continue to vacuum etc. eventually you will irradiate most of the fibers from wherever they are located. fibers love to lay on dusty surfaces, the more dust the more fiberglass Hope it helps

1. Metal mandrel The roll wrapping process involves wrapping prepreg carbon fibre around a metal mandrel and so the starting point is to have a metal mandrel of the correct diameter for the size tube that you want to create. Because the carbon fibre will be wrapped around the outside of the mandrel, the mandrel itself needs to have an outside diameter that matches the inside diameter of the carbon fibre tube you will use it to make. The outside diameter of your carbon fibre tube will be determined by the amount of reinforcement (the number of layers) you wrap around the mandrel. In the video we use an aluminium mandrel because the high coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of aluminium makes it well-suited to the roll wrapping process. Steel or other metals can be used but metals with higher CTE will make the process easier. If you want to produce a tapered carbon fibre tube then you will most likely need to use a lathe to turn down a solid aluminium rod to create a tapered mandrel. Once you have a correctly sized mandrel, ensure it is completely clean and as smooth as possible to aid with extraction. The mandrel should then be thoroughly prepared with a high temperature chemical release agent, such as Easy-Lease. 2. Prepreg carbon fibre Although in theory it may be possible to use alternative types of reinforcements, such as a dry fabric wetted out with an epoxy resin, in practice only prepreg carbon fibre offers the precision and ease of handling required for the roll wrapping process. In the tutorial we use a layer of XPREG® XC110 210g woven prepreg on the inside of the tube, followed by several layers of XC130 300g unidirectional prepreg, finished with a final layer of the XC110 210g woven prepreg again on the outside of the tube. Because the woven prepreg has fibres oriented in the 0° axis (down the length of the tube) and in the 90° axis (around the circumference of the tube) these layers add what is known as hoop strength to the tube, making the tube less vulnerable to crush or burst forces and splintering. The bulk of the reinforcement, in the 0° axis, gives the tube its longitudinal stiffness. By altering the layup to include more or less woven layers or by changing or alternating the orientation of the unidirectional plies allows the performance of the tube to be precisely optimised for its specific use. For example, a tube for a prop-shaft will encounter primarily torsional forces and so the unidirectional fibre can be aligned off-axis, at 45° for example, specifically to handle these forces. 3. Composites shrink tape Once the prepreg carbon fibre reinforcement has been wrapped around the mandrel as tightly as possible, the reinforcement is then tightly wrapped with a composites shrink tape to provide further consolidation. When applying the shrink tape it is important to ensure there is lots of overlap. Each wrap of the tape advances only a few millimetres down the tube. Although time consuming to do by hand, having lots of overlap in this way will provide much more consolidation pressure when the tape contracts during the cure. 4. Oven cure Besides the mandrel, having an oven to cure the tube in is likely to be the main limiting factor when considering the roll wrapping process outside of a full production environment. However, unlike other prepreg processes, the roll wrapping process does not require precise temperature control or the multi-step 'ramp and soak' cure cycles often needed. Nor does the process require an active vacuum line into the oven. Therefore, the only requirements for an oven to cure a roll wrapped tubes are basic temperature control and sufficient size to fit the tube in. Depending on the size of the tube you want to make, anything from a domestic oven to a powder-coating oven could be used. In the video tutorial, we're using our OV301 precision composites curing oven. The XPREG XC110 prepreg is loaded into the oven at 120°C, flat temperature, and allowed to cure for 1hr 30mins.

How is Carbon Fiber Different from Fiberglass? When looking into composite material options many look to carbon fiber or fiberglass for their versatility and strength. Most want to know, is carbon fiber stronger than fiberglass? Though there are other considerations to keep in mind when choosing which is best for you. Carbon fiber and fiberglass are both composite materials, the main difference between the two is that fiberglass is comprised of melted strands of glass while carbon fiber is made from strands of carbon atoms. Both are strong and lightweight materials that can be ideal for a wide range of applications across many different industries, however, carbon fiber is stronger, lighter, and more expensive to produce. Sometimes fiberglass will be a preferred material for commercial uses as it will meet performance requirements while also being less expensive. See our previous post, Common Questions about Carbon Fiber for more answers to some of the most common questions our clients have surrounding carbon fiber manufacturing. How Much Lighter is Carbon Fiber than Fiberglass? Fiberglass is a lightweight material making it ideal for many applications. However, an even lighter, and sometimes a stronger, material is required for complex and high-performing products. When lightness is key, carbon fiber is an ideal choice. Carbon fiber can be up to 15% lighter than fiberglass materials making it the material of choice for automotive, aerospace and defence applications that have specific performance requirements. How Much Stronger is Carbon Fiber than Fiberglass? Both fiberglass and carbon fiber are strong materials, so strong in fact, that both are stronger than steel. When strength is important to your project, high-quality carbon fiber takes the lead as it can be more than 20% stronger than the toughest fiberglass materials. Though carbon fiber is both lighter and stronger than fiberglass, it is not always the right choice for your project. Carbon fiber is expensive to produce and is not always suitable when budgets are a factor. Working with an experienced composites manufacturer that offers composite engineering is your best bet in understanding which type of material is right for your needs. Contact the experts at Spartec Composites to learn more about composite material options and how to make your project come to life.