The use of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics has become established in many areas of industry, particularly where high mechanical strength and low weight are required. A common obstacle to date has been the natural black color of these materials, which restricts design freedom. Xenia, a manufacturer of reinforced thermoplastic composites, has now developed a variant with a lighter color base that is easier to color.
The new materials with “Whitened Shade” still contain carbon fibers to improve the mechanical properties, but differ in that they have a modified matrix that enables a lighter coloring. This simplifies individual coloring using masterbatches for both injection moulding and 3D pellet printing. This offers an alternative for applications in which aesthetic requirements play a role alongside functionality.
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics are used in the automotive, mechanical engineering and aviation industries, among others. While the classic black color is unproblematic for many technical applications, there are areas in which color adjustments are desired. Particularly in the consumer goods sector or in medical technology, the possibility of individual design can be decisive.
In addition to the improved coloring, the new materials retain the advantages of conventional carbon fiber composites. These include high rigidity, low weight and good resistance to chemical influences. The manufacturer sees this as a solution that not only expands design freedom, but also enables the use of carbon fiber materials in new fields of application.
Xenia will be presenting the new materials at JEC World 2025 in Paris. Both the technical specifications and the potential applications will be presented there.
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