What are the reasons for using carbon fiber composites in drone components?

2025-09-18 11:09:41

Carbon fiber polymers are used in various industries due to their light weight, high strength, durability, high temperature resistance, and relatively stable chemical properties. With the rapid advancement of aerospace science and technology, the performance requirements for carbon fiber materials are becoming increasingly stringent, with the trend towards higher performance, lower cost, and greater versatility.

Early defense drones served as training targets. Modern drones are used for combat and reconnaissance. If shot down, only the aircraft is destroyed, with no casualties. As a result, drones are rapidly advancing. Beyond their defense applications, drones can also be used in civilian applications, such as communication interruptions, disaster inspections, weather monitoring, aerial photography, forest fire prevention, and meteorological observation. Therefore, drones will be one of the future directions of aircraft advancement.

Compared to traditional metal materials, carbon fiber polymers offer high specific strength and modulus, low expansion coefficient, strong fatigue resistance and shock absorption, excellent designability, and superior radar absorption and concealment. Their application in drones can significantly improve and enhance their overall performance.

Carbon fiber polymers are lightweight, high-strength, and resistant to salt spray corrosion, significantly improving and enhancing the overall performance of drones. According to research, advanced polymer materials with carbon fiber as the core are currently widely used in drones worldwide, accounting for 60%-80% of the total structural mass, reducing the weight of the aircraft by over 25%. The use of carbon fiber polymers has played a significant role in reducing the weight, miniaturization, and performance of drone structures.

Compared to other polymer materials, while maintaining the same strength and stiffness as a drone, the high specific strength and stiffness of carbon fiber polymers can significantly reduce the overall weight of a drone, lowering its payload. This has significant practical implications for lightweighting, miniaturization, and enhancing the performance of drone structures, thereby ensuring longer flight distances and durations.

Carbon fiber can reduce the weight and enhance the strength of drones. Using carbon fiber as a raw material for the outer shell and overall fuselage of a drone can improve its strength, reduce its weight, and reduce its size, thereby increasing its load-bearing capacity and extending its service life.