Carbon fiber sheets are available in a wide range of thicknesses to suit a variety of projects. The thinner the sheet, the easier it is to bend without fatigue. This is useful to know if the item needs to be covered with mulch. On the other hand, thicker carbon fiber sheets are practically impossible to bend, which is useful if you need a strong, rigid material to build your design.
Ordinary carbon fiber board thickness
Carbon fiber sheets are available in various thicknesses.
These thicknesses vary slightly by manufacturer, but most offer thicknesses similar to the ones below. Common thicknesses include:
1) 0.013 inches (0.33 mm) – This is a very thin sheet of carbon fiber, about the thickness of two sheets of printing paper. You can easily cut this carbon fiber piece with a pair of household scissors and bend easily on a 1″ cylinder. Carbon fiber sheets of this thickness are often used for decorative purposes.
2) 0.020 inches (0.50 mm) – about five sheets of paper thick and can be cut with a pair of heavy duty scissors. They can still flex, but not as much or as tightly as the 0.013-inch carbon fiber sheets. A sheet of this thickness is bent around a cylinder of about 4 inches. This is a useful thickness when your main purpose is still decoration, but you need more strength than thin tissue paper can provide. The added thickness and stiffness provide some camouflage when covering substrates with minor imperfections.
3) 0.032″ (0.80mm) – This is a fairly stiff carbon fiber plate, but still somewhat flexible. It’s almost as thick as a CD. Carbon fiber sheets of this thickness are usually used flat, but they can be bent around cylinders 10-12 inches in diameter. It is used as a semi-rigid sheet or as a lightweight structural material. This thickness can be cut with metal shears, saws, blades or abrasive cutting wheels. If a smooth edge is desired, you will need to clean the edge with 220 grit sandpaper after cutting.
4) The 0.062″ (1.57mm) carbon fiber plate is a little thicker than the CD above, which is a pretty solid carbon fiber plate. This is a good choice if you need impact resistance or are working on a small structural project. It has only a small amount of flexibility, the smallest cylinder it bends is about 24 inches. Only cut with carbide milling cutters, CNC drills or grinding wheels.
5) 0.125″ (3.175mm) This ⅛” thick carbon fiber sheet is very durable and strong. It is an ideal material for structural applications. Carbon fiber sheets of this thickness can only be cut with a saw, carbide, bimetallic or diamond-coated cutting tool. Sand the edges with sandpaper.
6) At 0.25″ (6.35mm) thick at 1⁄4″, these carbon fiber sheets are overkill for most projects. Small carbon fiber parts can be cut from these sheets. To cut such thick sheets of carbon fiber, you will definitely need specialized tools that have carbide, bimetallic or diamond coated cutting surfaces.
Carbon fiber sheet has many uses and comes in a variety of thicknesses to suit those uses. Whether you need a thin sheet of veneer to cover a surface for a nice look, or a thickness of material to ensure the strength of your project, carbon fiber is the way to go.