"Worldwide Carbon Fibre (Fiber) shortage" - is there?

North Star · Jan 30, 2006

read the above comment in the journal of the PFA - Popular Flying Association (UK's version of the EAA) in relation to the construction of wings for homebuilt aircraft .

Anyone heard of this shortage?

shockwaveriderz · Jan 30, 2006

I doubt it . Carbon fiber is made usually from 2 precursors: pitch or PAN ..polyacrylonitrile...... where PITCH is coal or oil based, whereas PAN is ia a polymerization process... most CF is PAN based as it has better strength properties....

cls · Jan 30, 2006

shockie, yes there is a "shortage", many vendors have low or no quantities and do not expect to be restocked until 2007 or later. carbon fiber is a boom-and-bust industry and supply management is an ongoing issue.

the shortage is caused by heavy consumption by US military. no comment.

bottom line, if you find some at a reasonable price, buy it.

shockwaveriderz · Jan 30, 2006

https://www.fibreglast.com/carbonfiberpage01-06.php

well maybe there is...well you learn something new everyday...

North Star · Jan 30, 2006

Thanks for the input folks .... this is bad news for all the small aerospace companies (and specialist kit manufacturers).

I suppose CF is one of the new 'strategic materials' like alumin(i)um was in WW2 and when there are on-going conflicts, the military must have first call on supplies.

That one comment in the PFA mag was the first mention of this that I'd seen.

shreadvector · Jan 30, 2006

ALL YOUR CARBON FIBER ARE BELONG TO US

cls · Jan 30, 2006

you have no chance to survive make your time ha ha ha ha

Manwithbeers · Jan 30, 2006

I learned about the shortage just the other day when I clicked over to Soller Composites website to order some cloth and they were out of stock on what I needed. I guess I'll be waiting a little bit too.

Can someone down there in the US let George Dubya know he's hogging again...

"Worldwide Carbon Fibre (Fiber) shortage" - is there?

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"Worldwide Carbon Fibre (Fiber) shortage" - is there?

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