The Carbon Fibre Care Guide: Tips and Tricks for Keeping Your Carbon in Top Shape

Carbon fibre is known for its strength and durability, but it's not indestructible. Like any other material, it requires proper care to maintain its optimal condition. Proper care can extend the lifespan of your carbon fibre products, saving you money in the long run. 

One of the most significant factors affecting the durability of carbon fibre is exposure to UV rays. Ultraviolet light can break down the epoxy resin that holds the carbon fibres together, causing the material to become brittle and weak. Other factors that can affect the durability of carbon fibre include exposure to heat, moisture, and chemicals.

In the next sections, we'll cover the tips and tricks for keeping your carbon fibre in top shape, starting with cleaning.

Cleaning carbon fibre is an essential part of maintaining its optimal condition. However, it's crucial to be careful when cleaning carbon fibre, as using the wrong cleaning products or techniques can cause damage. Here's how to clean your carbon fibre products without causing any harm:

Use a soft cloth when cleaning your carbon fibre products, always use soft, non-abrasive cloths. Microfibers are an excellent choice, as they're gentle and won't scratch the surface.

Making sure you are not using harsh chemicals is very important, pH Neutral is always something you can go for especially if you ceramic coat your vehicle. Cleaning as usual with your pre-wash, and snow foam, and then hand washing the car as usual.

Using products like a clay pad with some clay lube is also very helpful for decontamination, we want to always make sure the surface is clean and you can finish off with a wash down which then finishes off the leftover lube on the car.  

Carbon Fibre Care with the right products will increase its longevity and improve its shine & clarity. 

One of the reasons carbon fibre is so popular is its high-gloss finish. However, over time, this finish can become dull or faded. Here are some tips for maintaining the shine of your carbon fibre products:

Using a ceramic coating can help keep your carbon fibre products looking shiny and new. Look for a ceramic coating that's specifically designed for carbon fibre if you can. Applying this coating can ensure a longer life and better finish to your carbon. 

Machine polishing your carbon fibre is a good way to ensure the clear coat stays in the best shape possible, keeping high levels of gloss & showing the weave. As an example on a piece of carbon fibre that shows heavy degradation/clouding, you can use a single-stage polish.

For something like this, you would want to use a medium/firm foam polishing pad which would be good to use an all-in-one compound. 

Preventing damage to your carbon fibre products is crucial to their longevity and it can be as simple as your driving style being more conservative over large bumps in the road surface. 

Carbon fibre is a solid material but it's not indestructible and the resin coating is also easily damaged, using protective covers such as the CT Carbon Splitter Protector is an excellent example of an inexpensive way to protect your parts from damage.

Preventing damage is essential, but accidents can still happen and even if there is damage, there are ways to repair your carbon fibre. 

If your carbon fibre products become damaged, it's essential to repair them as soon as possible. Here are some tips for repairing carbon fibre:

Sand the Damaged AreaUse a fine-grit sandpaper to sand the damaged area. Be careful not to sand too deep, as this can weaken the material.

Apply EpoxyApply a small amount of epoxy to the damaged area. Use a toothpick or other small tool to spread the epoxy evenly.

Sand and PolishAfter the epoxy has dried, sand the area again with a fine-grit sandpaper. Once the surface is smooth, polish it with a microfiber cloth to restore its shine.

Repairing carbon fibre can be tricky, so it's best to leave it to the professionals. If you're unsure how to repair your carbon fibre products, seek the advice of a professional.

Now that we've covered how to clean, maintain shine, prevent damage, and repair carbon fibre, let's take a look at how to store it properly.

Using the right carbon fibre care products can help keep your carbon fibre products looking and performing their best. Here are some of the best carbon fibre care products on the market:

Carbon Fibre ProtectantA carbon fibre protectant can help maintain the shine of your carbon fibre products and protect them from damage. Look for a protectant that's specifically designed for carbon fibre.

Microfiber ClothA microfiber cloth is an essential tool for cleaning and polishing your carbon fibre products. Look for a cloth that's soft and non-abrasive.

Epoxy Resin Repair KitIf your carbon fibre products become damaged, an epoxy resin repair kit can help you fix them. Look for a kit that's specifically designed for carbon fibre.

Using the right carbon fibre care products can help extend the lifespan of your carbon fibre products and keep them looking and performing their best.

Carbon Fibre is a strong and durable material, but it requires proper care to maintain its optimal condition and we hope this guide helps you to care for your pride and joy just that much more.  Carbon Fibre is a brilliant addition to a vehicle, giving you different levels of aggression, and being able to completely change the road presence of your car. 

If you care for your styling parts & make sure they are well protected then they can last you a very long time. 

CT Carbon offers a huge range of products and we are certain there is something for you when you shop with us. Click the link below to shop now.