Boron Fiber Composite
Boron Fiber Composite uses CVD boron-on-tungsten filaments of 100-140 um diameter in epoxy, polyimide or aluminium matrices, available as unidirectional prepreg tape (121 C and 177 C cure), cross-ply, HYBOR boron/carbon hybrid, and bare filament.
Reference datasheet — Boron Fiber Composite is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the B-EP-UD condition
Boron Fiber Composite grades and fills
Boron Fiber Composite is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. B-EP-UD is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
cross-plied boron/epoxy laminate | Choose when biaxial load or dimensional stability in two directions matters more than peak 0° stiffness. | 700 | 780 | 0.7 | 90 Shore D |
boron fiber reinforced aluminium (metal matrix) | Diffusion-bonded MMC for high-temperature, high-conductivity structure (e.g. Shuttle Orbiter truss tubes); heavier, expensive, and requires hot-press consolidation. | 900 | 1,400 | 0.8 | |
boron fiber in polyimide / bismaleimide matrix | For sustained service above 200 °C where an epoxy matrix would soften; harder to process and lower interlaminar toughness. | 1,400 | 0.7 | 92 Shore D | |
Boron/carbon hybrid epoxy tape | Use to cut cost and weight versus pure boron while keeping much of the compressive strength; note the carbon makes it electrically conductive again. | 1,450 | 0.85 | 89 Shore D | |
B-EP-UDDefault unidirectional boron/epoxy prepreg laminate (121 °C cure) | Standard bonded-repair and stiffener material: highest compressive strength per weight, electrically insulating so it can be bonded straight onto aluminium. | 1,500 | 0.75 | 90 Shore D | |
177 °C-cure high-temperature boron/epoxy | Pick when the part or repair must run hot (supersonic skins, engine-area doublers) and a 177 °C autoclave cure is available. | 1,550 | 0.75 | 91 Shore D | |
Boron filament | The raw reinforcement itself, bought as a spool for prepregging, wire-wound rocket cases or MMC preforms. | 3,600 | 0.9 |
What is Boron Fiber Composite?
Boron Fiber Composite uses CVD boron-on-tungsten filaments of 100-140 um diameter in epoxy, polyimide or aluminium matrices, available as unidirectional prepreg tape (121 C and 177 C cure), cross-ply, HYBOR boron/carbon hybrid, and bare filament. It is specified for very high stiffness and compressive strength with dielectric transparency: 205 GPa modulus, 1500 MPa tensile strength and service to 120 C in the standard epoxy form. The filaments cannot be woven or tightly draped, machining is limited to diamond and waterjet methods (machinability score 8), and cost and lead time are high. Carbon-fiber prepreg is the default alternative unless dielectric behaviour or compressive strength rules it out. Boron Fiber Composite has a density of 2 g/cm³ (0.0723 lb/in³), heavier than 77% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 160°C (320 °F). Boron Fiber Composite has a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), stronger than 75% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 0.75% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
What is Boron Fiber Composite used for?
- aircraft structural repair patches
- military aerospace skins
- sporting goods (golf shafts)
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 35 MPa·√m (31.9 ksi·√in), better than 91% of composite grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.1%, better than 85% of composite grades
- Stiff — 205 GPa (29.7 Msi), better than 77% of composite grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 95 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 99% of composite grades
- Difficult to machine — 8/100, worse than 94% of composite grades
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 90% of composite grades
- Limited ductility — 0.75%, worse than 84% of composite grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 78% of composite grades
Boron Fiber Composite properties
Typical room-temperature values for Boron Fiber Composite-B-EP-UD; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical4
Boron Fiber Composite has a density of 2 g/cm³ (0.0723 lb/in³), heavier than 77% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 160°C (320 °F).
Mechanical14
Boron Fiber Composite has a tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi), stronger than 75% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 0.75% and the elastic modulus is 205 GPa (29.7 Msi).
Thermal7
Boron Fiber Composite is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 2 W/m·K (1.16 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 58% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Boron Fiber Composite has an electrical resistivity of 10,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 77% of composite grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Boron Fiber Composite takes about 1,500 MJ of energy and emits 95 kg of CO₂ — more than 100% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Boron Fiber Composite's machinability is not recommended (8/100, worse than 94% of composite grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. Boron Fiber Composite is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Boron Fiber Composite
Is Boron Fiber Composite easy to machine?
Extremely abrasive 100–140 µm filaments destroy carbide — use abrasive waterjet, diamond-plated routers/saws and diamond core drills with dust extraction.
Can Boron Fiber Composite be welded?
Not weldable; joints are adhesively bonded (film adhesive) or mechanically fastened with oversized, well-supported holes.
Can Boron Fiber Composite be formed, bent or molded?
Hand-laid unidirectional prepreg tape only (fibres cannot be woven or tightly draped); vacuum-bag/autoclave cure at 121 or 177 °C, or heat-blanket cure for on-aircraft repair patches.
Boron Fiber Composite chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| boron fiber (CVD B on W core)≈50 vol% in UD prepreg; W core ≈ 1–3 wt% of the fibre | 55 – 70 | 65 |
| epoxy matrix121 °C or 177 °C cure aerospace epoxy | ≥ 30 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Boron Fiber Composite?
Seal edges and paint/prime for UV and moisture protection; the laminate is dielectric, so eddy-current inspection of the metal beneath a bonded patch remains possible.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Boron Fiber Composite in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Boron fiber
How much does Boron Fiber Composite cost?
Boron Fiber Composite is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Boron Fiber Composite — frequently asked
What is Boron Fiber Composite used for?
Boron Fiber Composite is typically used for aircraft structural repair patches, military aerospace skins and sporting goods (golf shafts). In short: very high compressive strength; dielectric repair patches; extremely abrasive filaments.
What is the tensile strength of Boron Fiber Composite?
Boron Fiber Composite has a typical tensile strength of 1,500 MPa (218 ksi) — stronger than 75% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Boron Fiber Composite easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, worse than 94% of composite grades). Extremely abrasive 100–140 µm filaments destroy carbide — use abrasive waterjet, diamond-plated routers/saws and diamond core drills with dust extraction.
Can Boron Fiber Composite be welded?
Not weldable; joints are adhesively bonded (film adhesive) or mechanically fastened with oversized, well-supported holes.
What surface finishes work on Boron Fiber Composite?
Seal edges and paint/prime for UV and moisture protection; the laminate is dielectric, so eddy-current inspection of the metal beneath a bonded patch remains possible.
Can Boron Fiber Composite be formed, bent or molded?
Hand-laid unidirectional prepreg tape only (fibres cannot be woven or tightly draped); vacuum-bag/autoclave cure at 121 or 177 °C, or heat-blanket cure for on-aircraft repair patches.
What is the maximum service temperature of Boron Fiber Composite?
Boron Fiber Composite is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 190°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Boron Fiber Composite B-EP-UD and Boron Fiber Composite B-AL?
B-EP-UD is the default condition — standard bonded-repair and stiffener material: highest compressive strength per weight, electrically insulating so it can be bonded straight onto aluminium. B-AL: diffusion-bonded MMC for high-temperature, high-conductivity structure (e.g. Shuttle Orbiter truss tubes); heavier, expensive, and requires hot-press consolidation.
How much does Boron Fiber Composite cost?
Boron Fiber Composite is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASM Handbook Vol. 21: Composites — ASM International (2001)
- CMH-17 (MIL-HDBK-17) Composite Materials Handbook, Vol. 1–3 — SAE International / CMH-17 (2012)
- Boron filament and boron/epoxy prepreg product data — Specialty Materials, Inc. (formerly Textron Specialty Materials) (2020)
- Composite Repair of Metallic Aircraft Structure (Baker & Jones) — AGARD/NATO (1988)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.