Influence of the Detailed Structure of two Variants of Non-Crimped Carbon Fabric on the Drape Properties

Abstract

Two carbon fibre non-crimped fabrics have been subjected to a drape evaluation using bias extension testing. The two fabrics were produced by different suppliers but were nominally identical in structure, in terms of fibre type and directions, weight/unit area, stitch style, pitch and density. Despite the close similarity between the two materials, their bias extension responses were dramatically different. This paper compares the bias extension behaviour of the two materials and discusses the small differences in structure that lead to great differences in performance.