Carbon Fiber: Compensation or Retardation?

[Thighs]

^^YOU need to stop stalking before you sound more like an idiot than you do now.

There are two different types of CF... impregnated and dry. Impregnated cf is what you generally see used in DOT hoods/exterior pieces. It is "impregnated" with fiberglass resin so that when it gets laid with a fiberglass frame and vaccuum formed, it will bind better to the fiberglass frame. It's also a bit easier to work and will give you a much glossier shine as the end result. 90% of the cf on cars you see is impregnated. Glossy, pretty, nice deep weave texture, but the problem is it's also heavier, since it has so much fiberglass in it. Usually an impregnated cf hood will weigh about as much as a fiberglass hood, sometimes more. Either way, impregnated cf hood you're looking at weighing about 27-35 lbs, where a metal hood will weigh 35-40+ depending on the car.

DRY carbon fiber is when you literally take a sheet of carbon fiber and use immense pressure and heat to form it. It's not as pretty, not as glossy, but is MUCH lighter. Like we're talking 9lb hoods. However, it is almost impossible to get DOT approval for dry CF, they're more expensive, and they don't have that trademark "bling" effect that impregnated does. However, you see dry cf used a lot in interior applications, since it forms around complex curves easier. It's then painted with high gloss clearcoat/laquer to make it look shiny.

i can talk all i want. i work with carbon on a regular basis and elan composites. i know what im taking about. there was just different terminology used that i hadnt heard before.

for one thing, no real carbon fiber hood has fiberglass in it. it might have a glass frame, but in the carbon itself? no. ALL carbon that you will ever see has resin in it. how do you think it stays in shape and is smooth?

[KidSaru]

i can talk all i want. i work with carbon on a regular basis and elan composites. i know what im taking about. there was just different terminology used that i hadnt heard before.

for one thing, no real carbon fiber hood has fiberglass in it. it might have a glass frame, but in the carbon itself? no. ALL carbon that you will ever see has resin in it. how do you think it stays in shape and is smooth?