Carbon Fiber vs ABS Plastic

When choosing exterior upgrades for your vehicles such as a front spoiler, rear spoiler, or side skirts, there are many designs to choose from. When it comes to materials that these components are made from, you can choose from a few different materials such as fiberglass, ABS plastic, and carbon fiber. Today, we are going to look at the difference between the two most popular options, ABS plastic, and carbon fiber.

What Is Carbon Fiber?

Carbon fiber is a polymer that is both very lightweight and strong compared to other materials. It is made of thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon, weaved together for added strength. Carbon fibers have several advantages: high stiffness, high tensile strength, high strength to weight ratio, high chemical resistance, high-temperature tolerance, and low thermal expansion. Carbon fiber is used on car modifications to give you a stylish, strong, and lightweight addition to your vehicle. 

What Is ABS Plastic?

ABS or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a common thermoplastic polymer commonly used in injection molding applications. It is a very common material for spoilers and side skirts as it is cheaper than carbon fiber, strong, and can be painted to match very easily. 

Weight

When it comes to adding parts to your car, you will need to be mindful of weight as added weight can slow your vehicle down. Carbon fiber is going to be a considerably lighter option when compared to ABS plastic, making it the material of choice for those looking to keep their vehicle as light as possible.

Durability

While ABS plastic and carbon fiber are both durable, carbon is going to be strong than ABS plastic. However, when impacted, carbon fiber will most likely crack and break whereas ABS plastic may dent or bend. Both will need to be properly maintained to last for years to come.