12K 400G PLAIN WOVEN CARBON FIBER FABRIC ROLL

The influence of the Through-The-Thickness (T-T-T) binder yarn count on the fibre volume fraction (Vf), crimp and damage tolerance within 3D woven carbon fibre composites. Three fabrics were woven with varying binder yarn counts; the first had 1x12k binders, the second had 2x6k binders (two individual 6k tows laid on top of one another into the structure to form one tow) and the third had 1x6k binder tows.
Dry fabric compress tests conducted on the three 3D woven fabrics showed that a power law can be successful utilised to predict Vf and identify the required pressure to achieve a specific Vf. All three fabrics achieved Vf‘s in the range of 45–47% however the 2x6k binder fabric had higher %CV's compared to the other fabrics. The degree of crimp within the three 3D woven fabrics was shown to be highest within the 1x12k binder fabric followed by the 1x6k binder fabric with the 2x6k binder fabric having the lowest percentage crimp.