The use of carbon fiber in automotive applications has become increasingly popular. For a material that was once set aside for luxury and sports cars, it is now being used in consumer vehicles.
There are many benefits of having carbon fiber in your car. It improves aesthetics, reduces vehicle weight, and it is more flexible than most materials.
If you have a part on your car made using carbon fiber, you may wonder whether this material is vulnerable to scratches.
It’s unfortunate that despite all the unique properties possessed by this material, it can get scratched. Scratch marks can significantly affect carbon fiber’s sleek look and design.
This is terrible news for vehicle owners who have some parts made of carbon fiber. The most annoying thing about the scratching vulnerability of carbon fiber is that this material is costly.
Therefore, to repair these scratches, you could have to part with a significant amount of money. Compared to paint or plastic, having carbon fiber on your car can be expensive to maintain.
What Can Scratch Carbon Fiber?
Anything that can scratch plastic will scratch carbon fiber. The chances of carbon fiber being scratched depend on where it is located.
If carbon fiber is used on the rims, it has a higher chance of getting scratched than carbon fiber used in the interior.
Unless you play around with knives inside your car, carbon fiber trims can remain scratch-free for the longest time possible.
if you have carbon fiber in or on your car, you must be very keen when using sharp objects. That will ensure you don’t ruin the aesthetics of your carbon fiber.
Why are Scratches Marks Such a Terrible Thing for Carbon Fiber?
If you didn’t know, carbon fiber is one of the most expensive auto-materials. No wonder, in the past, it was only used on high-end luxury and sports cars. These days, there are less costly versions of carbon fiber, but their price tag remains high.
Having such a material scratched can be annoying and frustrating because of its high costs. Carbon fiber repairs can take a toll on your finances.
This is why car owners who have carbon fibers in their vehicles are very keen on ensuring this material is free of scratches.
Can Carbon Fiber Scratches Be Repaired?
Even though it’s not cheap, carbon fiber scratches can be repaired at auto shops that specialize in this kind of thing. Since DIY carbon fiber repair isn’t often very successful at concealing scratches.
The only problem with carbon fiber scratch repair is if the dents are too deep. Deep scratches on carbon fiber alter the pattern of the weave beneath.
This results in an interrupted pattern after the repair. Depending on how skilled the company handling the repair is, these interrupted patterns can be slightly noticeable.
If the professional repair seems expensive, some DIY hacks can get the job done but not to perfection.
For instance, if you sand the scratches, you can remove surface scratches and then cover them with some clear. That can restore scratch marks on carbon fiber.
Wet sanding the carbon fiber scratches is ideal. You need to sand carefully and avoid digging deeper into the carbon fiber as you may interfere with the weave pattern.
Considering how expensive carbon fiber is, it’s better to let professionals handle the repairs. You are most likely going to get a more decent finish after. Only engage in these repairs if you have the skills and knowledge.
Will Buffing Carbon Fiber Remove Scratches?
Buffing and polishing are great ways for you to remove scratches on carbon fiber and ensure it looks flawless. If you have some scratches on the carbon fiber, you can apply some rubbing compound and see if it will eliminate the dents.
Please note that buffing only works for surface scratches. If the scratches are deep, a rubbing compound won’t be of much help. The other thing that you need to get right is using a carbon fiber polishing glaze.
Carbon fiber is a very sensitive material, and using the wrong polishing compound can result in more damage to the material’s surface.
Does Toothpaste Hide Scratches on Carbon Fiber?
It’s surprising that people still believe toothpaste is a scratch remover. Even though it’s abrasive, toothpaste doesn’t come close to ordinary car-rubbing compounds. It can fill in the scratches on your carbon fiber, but it won’t hold.
If the carbon fiber is used on an external part of your car, be assured that it will be washed off with rain or carwash. Toothpaste is a soft abrasive that won’t work on a hard surface such as car paint, carbon fiber, and clear coat.
Is Sanding Carbon Fiber a Great Idea?
It only makes sense to sand carbon fiber if the scratches are only on the clear coat. A layer of clear coat protects carbon fiber.
In some instances, the scratches could only be on the clear coat. If that is the case, wet sand the surface using fine-grit sandpaper.
There is nothing wrong with sanding carbon fiber as long as you only touch the clear coat. As mentioned earlier, carbon fiber comprises a weave patterned in a unique style.
If you sand the carbon fiber itself, you will ruin the weave, resulting in more significant damage than the scratches themselves.
Should I Paint Over Carbon Fiber to Remove Scratches?
If several scratches make your car look hideous, painting over them is an excellent method for you to hide them.
But before you do that, you need to take note of the following. Carbon fiber portrays luxury. It has a better aesthetic appeal than paint. It wouldn’t be right for you to hide carbon fiber beneath the paint.
If there are scratches on your carbon fiber, the best fix is finding a reputable company specializing in such repairs. They will fix the scratches and allow you to enjoy the luxury of having carbon fiber on your vehicle. It may cost more, but it’s worth it.
Does Carbon Fiber Scratch Easily?
Practically all surfaces scratch. But some tend to scratch much easier than others. It’s important to know where carbon fiber lies so that you can know whether it’s a suitable material to have on your car.
Carbon fiber is reasonably susceptible to scratching. We can’t say that it scratches easily, nor can we say that it’s scratch-resistant. If you press a sharp object roughly against carbon fiber, it will scratch.
But, if you prevent such scenarios and invest in a quality surface protectant, carbon fiber should stay scratch-free for a long time.
How Durable is Carbon Fiber?
If carbon fiber can get scratched, is it durable? Even though it can get scratched, carbon fiber is a highly durable material.
It is made using crystalline carbon filaments that are stiff and have enormous tensile strength. It is highly resistant to chemical abrasion and heat.
The key takeaway here is that carbon fiber is quite durable, and that’s why it’s being used in vehicles and other industrial applications. This reliable material can serve you and your car for many years.
Boasting new technology, carbon fiber is slowly finding its way into the auto industry. It may take some time before we see more carbon fiber in ordinary consumer cars.
Metal vs. Carbon Fiber
The competition between these two is very stiff because both materials play a critical role in society. The key difference between these two is the weight.
Because when you compare strength, these two seem to provide a similar level/amount of strength. Carbon fiber comes in handy when there is a need for a strong and light material.
On the other hand, metal is perfect when the application requires a strong and heavy material. Both are vulnerable when it comes to scratching, and there isn’t much you can do to prevent scratching on either carbon fiber or metal.
Is Carbon Fiber Scratch Resistant?
There is no doubt that carbon fiber performs exceptionally better than most materials such as plastic and metal. One of the perks of carbon fiber is that it has some scratch-resistant properties.
We want to clarify that running a knife through carbon fiber may scratch it. However, due to its high level of scratch resistance, it can withstand scratches caused by debris or chemicals rubbing against its surface.
Are There Other Drawbacks of Carbon Fiber?
Other than being vulnerable to scratches, there are other downsides to having carbon fiber on your car. The first thing that makes people shy away from carbon fiber is the cost.
If you take two vehicles, one with ordinary fabric and the other with a carbon fiber trim, the latter will cost more. There might even be a difference worth several thousand dollars.
Partying with such an amount of money because of the material used is often not easy for most car buyers. Secondly, carbon fiber is tough to repair. If it were ordinary paint, you wouldn’t be so worried.