Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-18 Origin: Site
In modern manufacturing and high-end application scenarios, carbon fiber materials and aluminum alloy structural parts are often listed as the preferred materials for lightweight, high strength and strong corrosion resistance. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, aerospace, sports equipment, medical equipment and other fields, the application of carbon fiber materials has gradually expanded and become an important choice to replace aluminum alloys. This article will systematically analyze the performance comparison of carbon fiber and aluminum alloy from the aspects of mechanical properties, thermal properties, corrosion resistance, processability and cost, to help enterprises make more scientific decisions in material selection.
Material Type | Density (g/cm³) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elastic Modulus (GPa) | Strength (MPa/(g/cm³)) |
Carbon fiber (T700) | 1.80 | 4900 | 230 | 2722 |
Aluminum alloy (7075) | 2.80 | 570 | 72 | 203 |
Note: The specific strength of carbon fiber is much higher than that of 7075 aluminum alloy, which means that it can withstand greater loads at the same weight and is an ideal choice for high-performance structures.
Carbon fiber materials have excellent fatigue resistance and can maintain structural stability under high-frequency repeated stress;
Although aluminum alloys have certain toughness, they are prone to fatigue fracture under long-term stress and have a relatively short lifespan.
Carbon fiber composites can be designed through the direction of prepreg plying to achieve anisotropic reinforced structures; while aluminum alloy structural parts are usually isotropic and have limited design freedom.
Material Type | Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | Thermal Expansion Coefficient (×10⁻⁶/°C) |
Carbon fiber composites | 5~10 | -0.5 ~ 1.5 |
Aluminum alloy (7075) | 130~180 | 22 |
Carbon fiber composites have low thermal conductivity and small thermal expansion, and are suitable for applications with high thermal stability requirements, such as satellite structures, optical component frames, etc.
Carbon fiber products themselves are not affected by moisture, salt spray, acid and alkali, and can be used for a long time in complex environments;
Aluminum alloy structural parts are prone to electrochemical corrosion in humid or corrosive environments and need to rely on anodizing or coating protection.
Material | Processing Method | Difficulty | Typical Process |
Carbon fiber composite materials | Mold forming, automatic layering, hot pressing curing | High | RTM, autoclave, vacuum bag forming |
Aluminum alloy | CNC processing, stamping, welding | Low | Machining, cold bending |
Carbon fiber structural parts require large initial mold investment and are suitable for mass production of high-performance parts;
Aluminum alloy structural parts are suitable for small and medium batch customization, with low initial investment and flexible processing.
Project | Carbon Fiber Material | Aluminum Alloy |
Raw material cost | High | Medium |
Processing difficulty | High | Medium |
Cost change trend | Decrease with technology maturity | Relatively stable |
At present, with the improvement of domestic carbon fiber production technology, the price of domestic carbon fiber has gradually decreased, and carbon fiber suppliers such as Revolve CF can provide customers with more cost-effective customized solutions.
Industry | Main Materials Used | Reasons |
Aerospace | Carbon fiber | High strength, lightweight requirements |
Railway transportation | Mixed use of aluminum alloy + carbon fiber | Balance between cost and performance |
Sports equipment | Carbon fiber | Flexible, light, and high strength |
Automotive structure | Aluminum alloy (popular) + carbon fiber (high-end car) | Price and performance trade-off |
As carbon fiber material suppliers continue to optimize the process chain, such as automatic laying, rapid curing, and low-cost resin system development, carbon fiber materials will gradually expand to the consumer market;
Aluminum alloys may be used more in "hybrid structures" with composite materials, such as "carbon-aluminum hybrid bodies" to improve overall performance and reduce costs.
When choosing between carbon fiber and aluminum alloy, multiple factors such as performance requirements, cost control, manufacturing process and use environment should be considered comprehensively:
For occasions that pursue extreme lightness, high strength and high environmental adaptability (such as drones, satellites, racing cars) - carbon fiber is the first choice;
For cost-sensitive structural parts or structures with medium performance requirements (such as general industrial frames, storage structures) - aluminum alloy is more suitable;
For users who have a balance between performance and cost, it is recommended to adopt a "hybrid structure design" strategy.
For more information on the performance, specifications or quotations of carbon fiber products, please contact Revolve CF carbon fiber product supplier. We focus on the research and development and production of high-performance carbon fiber materials and demolding materials, and provide customized technical support.
For procurement/wholesale, please contact: HarveyXu@revolve-cf.com
Official website: https://www.revolve-cf.com/
