Fiber comparison
Basalt fiber vs Carbon fiber (IM7)
Every value below is a typical room-temperature figure with its source, test method and conditions — the same dataset that drives the calculators.
| Property | Basalt fiber | Carbon fiber (IM7) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.67 g/cm³ | 1.78 g/cm³ | Basalt fiber — 50% higher |
| Young's modulus E | 89 GPa | 276 GPa | Carbon fiber (IM7) — 3.1× higher |
| Tensile strength | 2900 MPa | 5516 MPa | Carbon fiber (IM7) — 90% higher |
Where these numbers come from
- Fiore et al., Composites Part B 74 (2015) — basalt fibre review
- Hexcel HexTow carbon fiber product datasheet
Typical room-temperature values for learning and preliminary design; grades vary widely and a supplier datasheet always overrides a textbook figure. Confirm against the datasheet before design work.