Originally designed for the automotive and aerospace industries, these PAEK and carbon fiber sheets are a substitute for metal because they’re as light as aluminum and as strong as a nickel alloy. Their combination of high strength, light weight, chemical resistance, and thermal properties is unusual for a composite. High tension won’t break them apart and extreme compression won’t shrink or crack them. They’re also stiff and withstand abrasions and dents from heavy loads. Cleaning and degreasing chemicals, such as acetone and isopropyl alcohol, won’t damage them. Unlike most composites, they’re recyclable too.

Form these sheets into the shapes you need using heat and pressure. Compared to PEEK composites, they don’t need as high of a curing temperature to thermoform them, so they save you time and energy. Different from composites made with adhesives and epoxies, which you must machine, layer, and cure, you can repeatedly and quickly heat and form these sheets without hurting their strength or chemical resistance. However, they will soften if the operating temperature exceeds 500° F—a higher maximum temperature than other thermoformable composites.

A layer of foam is sandwiched between two pieces of carbon fiber to make these sheets even lighter than standard carbon fiber sheets. Carbon fiber is the strongest composite we offer. It’s comparable in strength to 6061 aluminum and is often used to build frames and structures.

Almost as stiff as steel and a fraction of the weight, these carbon fiber sheets are often used for structural framing, machinery components, and robotics. Known for its use in the aerospace industry—where a balance of weight and strength is critical—carbon fiber is lightweight, so it reduces the stress and wear on motorized parts and extends the life of machinery. These sheets have layers that alternate fibers in two directions, so they resist bending at the edges.

The checked pattern on these sheets gives them a classic carbon-fiber look and makes them easy to machine because the pattern keeps fibers from splintering when the sheets are cut. They are matte, so they do not reflect light and are ready to paint.

Use these resin-free carbon fiber sheets to reinforce or repair existing composites as well as create new composites. Mold custom-shaped composite parts by layering carbon fiber sheets with an epoxy. The epoxy (sold separately) is a two-part resin that begins to harden in 15 hours and reaches full strength in 4 days. Finished composite pieces withstand temperatures up to 250° or 350° F.

Carbon fiber is the strongest composite we offer.

Often used to build frames and structures, these lightweight sheets combine the strength and stiffness of carbon fiber with the impact resistance of Kevlar. With carbon fiber on the outer layers, these sheets are extremely difficult to bend—they’re nearly as stiff as pure carbon fiber. The carbon fiber layers also provide good strength under tension, comparable to 6061 aluminum. Sandwiched between the carbon fiber layers of these sheets is a Kevlar core. Known for its toughness, the Kevlar core helps prevent sheets from failing under a variety of stresses, such as punctures, cuts, impact, and wear. The Kevlar core also has a lower density than carbon fiber, making these sheets even lighter than sheets made from carbon fiber alone.

Layers of fibers alternating in four directions makes this carbon fiber stiff at the corners and edges, so it stands up to twisting forces. It also gives you the same stiffness as standard carbon fiber but in a thinner sheet, reducing the overall weight of your application. It's ideal for thin, strong parts—often substituted for aluminum because it's lighter in weight yet almost as rigid.

A checked pattern keeps the fibers from splintering when cut and gives these sheets the classic carbon fiber look. They're glossy but can be sanded for a matte finish.

With a better strength-to-weight ratio, this aluminum honeycomb is a lightweight alternative to solid sheets. It absorbs sound, so it’s often installed near compressors and loud equipment to dampen noise.