Fiberglass used in composite components takes one of three forms: milled fiber, short chopped fiber and long continuous fiber, whereas longer fibers produce stiffer and stronger components, within certain limits. PCT specializes in the dominant reinforcement materials, including: fiberglass: S glass and E glass, carbon fiber composites, aramid fibers including KevlarTM , for example.
As the table and diagram show below, composites compare favorably with traditional materials. Specifically, when a load is applied in parallel to the fiber axis, these fibers are stronger and more rigid, per given mass of a material, than traditional metals such as steel or aluminum.
| E-glass | Graphite |
Al 6061 | Alloy Steel |
| Strength kpsi | 490 | 510 |
35 | 110 |
| Modulus mpsi | 10 | 33 |
10 | 30 |
| Density, #/cubic inch | 0.094 | 0.065 |
0.10 | 0.28 |
| **Specific Strength | 533 | 1500 |
350 | 392 |
| **Specific Modulus | 40 | 192 |
100 | 107 |
**(demonstrates relative strength and stiffness as a function of weight)
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