1. Material nature: fiber type determines performance boundary
Fiberglass board: glass fiber is used as reinforcing material, resin (such as epoxy, polyester) is used as matrix, and is formed by lamination process. Glass fiber has a fine diameter (about 9-13μm) and a low modulus (about 70GPa), but the cost is controllable.
Carbon board: carbon fiber (PAN-based or asphalt-based) is used as reinforcing material, and the resin matrix is also critical. Carbon fiber has a finer diameter (5-7μm) and a modulus of up to 230-600GPa, which is 3-8 times that of glass fiber, giving the material extreme rigidity.
2. Physical properties: the ultimate game between strength and weight
Density and weight:
The density of fiberglass board is about 1.8-2.0g/cm³, and the density of carbon board is as low as 1.5-1.8g/cm³. The carbon board is 10%-20% lighter at the same volume.
Carbon board has significant advantages in lightweighting, for example, the weight reduction of automotive parts can reach 30%, improving fuel efficiency.
Mechanical properties:
The tensile strength of glass fiber board is 100-300MPa, and that of carbon board is 1000-3000MPa, which is more than 5 times that of steel, and has better impact resistance.
Carbon board has better stability at high temperature and can withstand an environment above 200℃ for a long time, while glass fiber board has a temperature resistance of about 150℃.
3. Application scenarios: layered coverage from daily to cutting-edge
Dominant fields of glass fiber board:
Automotive industry: interior panels, battery pack boxes, cost-sensitive components;
Electronic equipment: notebook shells, printer components, taking into account both strength and cost;
Architectural field: partitions, decorative panels, replacing traditional wood.
Core markets of carbon board:
Aerospace: aircraft wing beams, satellite structural parts, extreme weight reduction needs;
High-end sports: bicycle frames, golf clubs, pursuit of extreme performance;
New energy: wind turbine blade main beams, hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plates, high strength and lightweight key.
4. Cost and process: economic efficiency and manufacturing threshold
Raw material cost:
The price of carbon fiber precursor (glass fiber) for glass fiber board is about 12,000 yuan/ton, and the price of carbon fiber for carbon board is as high as 120,000-200,000 yuan/ton, with significant cost difference.
The cost of carbon board resin matrix (such as epoxy) is also higher than that of polyester resin for glass fiber board.
Manufacturing complexity:
Glass fiber board can be formed by conventional processes such as molding and pultrusion, with low equipment investment;
Carbon board requires high temperature and high pressure molding (such as autoclave), and the fiber layer design is complex and the process threshold is high.
5. Selection suggestions: Accurately match demand and budget
Choose glass fiber board: If the project budget is limited, weight is not sensitive (such as construction, ordinary automotive parts), or rapid mass production is required, glass fiber board is an economical choice.
Choose carbon board: If it involves high-end equipment (such as drones, racing cars), requires extreme lightweight, or the product is positioned in the high-end market, carbon board is expensive but irreplaceable in performance.
Special considerations:
Environmental protection requirements: Fiberglass boards are more recyclable than carbon boards, which is in line with the trend of green manufacturing;
Batch demand: Carbon boards are suitable for small batches of high value-added products, while fiberglass boards are more suitable for large-scale standardized production.
The core difference between fiberglass boards and carbon boards lies in the balance between performance and cost: fiberglass boards cover the mid- and low-end markets with economy, while carbon boards dominate the high-end field with extreme performance. Data from 2025 show that carbon boards account for more than 60% of the aerospace and high-end sports equipment markets, while fiberglass boards still account for more than 70% of the mid- and low-end demand in the automotive and electronics fields. When choosing, you need to make a comprehensive decision based on product positioning, budget and performance requirements.
