The UK’s Sigmatex (Runcorn; www.sigmatex.com) has expanded its “SigmaRF” product range with the launch of a new carbon fibre composite material. Primarily aimed at the automotive industry, the material is a uniform reinforcement of thermoplastic and carbon fibres – typically 55% thermoplastic and 45% carbon.

Sigmatex said 85% of the fibres are aligned, which provides for superior mechanical properties compared with other recycled materials. In addition, SigmaRF enables the complete manufacture of a non-crimp (straight) fibre fabric by reformatting surplus virgin carbon fibre. This significantly reduces the amount of fabric that Sigmatex and its customers currently send to landfill.

The material is suited to various applications that use carbon fibre textiles, particularly those in the automotive, sports, leisure and energy sectors. A polyamide version of the material is also available.