Introduction to VectorUltra™

VectorUltra™ reinforcements are designed to be used in laminates where lightweight, stiffness and strength are part of the design criteria. Depending upon the application, fabrics can be manufactured exclusively from high modulus fibers, such as carbon, aramid, and S-glass, or can be offered as hybridized versions with E-glass.

As a rule carbon is used primarily as a stiffening device whereas aramid (brand name KEVLAR® by Dupont) may be used to add toughness, abrasion resistance and increase impact resistance. And sometimes both these fibers are added to E-glass architectures to produce specialized laminates. Several builders of small performance bass boats have successfully used a hybrid weft triax, KEC-TTX 1700 (17oz/sq. yd +45º, 90º, -45º aramid, carbon, E-glass weft triax) in an infusion application to create a stiff, light, and strong boat for it ’s displacement.

In most cases VectorUltra™ reinforcements are made to order but Vectorply stocks several styles for immediate delivery such as C-BX 1200, a 12oz/sq yd (410 gsm) carbon double bias, or C-LA 1819, an 18oz/sq.yd (600 gsm) carbon unidirectional. Double bias aramid hybrids in 12oz/sq. yd (410 gsm) are also normally available. Call for details or click on the link at the bottom of the page for a complete listing of VectorUltra™ reinforcements. Custom versions can be designed to suit the requirements but may be subject to minimum order restrictions.

VectorUltra™

Nothing reinforces composites quite like carbon fiber. Pound for pound, compared to steel, carbon fiber is 3.5 times stiffer and more than 12 times stronger.

There are two different kinds of carbon fiber - PAN and Pitch based. PAN fibers, the most popular in the marine and sporting goods industry are easy to process, have excellent mechanical properties, but have higher cost than Pitch based fibers. PAN fibers are acrylics containing carbon backbones that are heated under tension at 200-300ºC to align the molecules for strength purposes. The temperature is then raised to 1000ºC in a nitrogen atmosphere to carbonize the fibers and finally heated under an inert atmosphere at 3000ºC to arrive at almost pure carbon. Here is the distinction between graphite fibers and carbon fibers. While carbon is approximately 99% carbon, graphite is 100% pure carbon. The price difference between carbon and graphite is significant.

Pitch based carbon fibers on the other hand are lower cost but are more difficult to process and have lower strength. Carbon fiber is classed by its modulus or measure of stiffness and is available in varying modulus from 33 million psi to 86 million psi. The higher the modulus the greater the stiffness and the more critical the construction method i.e. to get to the high properties the laminate should be post cured under heat and pressure such as an autoclave. An example would be aerospace parts where there’s a demand for high strength, lightweight such as components of the International Space Station, satellites, rocket motor casings, and expendable launch vehicles like the Boeing Delta rocket programs. Carbon used in boat building is standard modulus (33 msi) where lightweight is essential but some stiffness is traded for greater elasticity or impact resistance (or shock absorption). Parts can be made with room temperature cured epoxies or vinyl esters without special curing procedures or pressure vessel equipment.

Some current uses for carbon reinforcements

Carbon can be used as the primary reinforcement in conjunction with fiberglass, aramid, or wood (some of the largest wind turbine blades are made from carbon reinforced wood laminates).

Carbon is being used as the primary reinforcement in not only hull sides and bottom but in the superstructure as well. Carbon unidirectional fibers placed on deck beam stringer caps can help reduce the depth of the beam thus lowering overall deck height and increasing the span between bulkheads, opening the door for more interior design options.

Carbon’s stiffness and strength can be used to handle the highly concentrated loads such as those found on a sailboat i.e. mainsheet travelers, chainplates, rudder bearings, masts and booms.

Click here to view all VectorUltra™ reinforcements.