CF
HexTow® HM63 12K
Hexcel ? High Modulus
Manufacturer page / TDSDescription
The unique properties of HexTow® HM63 fiber, such as higher tensile strength and modulus, as well as shear and compressive strength, allow structural designers to achieve both higher safety margins for both stiffness and strength critical applications. HexTow® HM63 is International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) certified/ qualified.
Comparative overview
Carbon fiber — High-modulus carbon
Strengths: Higher stiffness and dimensional stability than standard or intermediate-modulus carbon at very low weight.
When to use: Select for stiffness-critical aerospace/space structures, sporting shafts and precision components where deflection is more important than impact tolerance.
Key tradeoffs: Lower strain-to-failure and greater handling/damage sensitivity than standard or intermediate-modulus grades; conductive and premium-priced.
Qualitative ratings (1–10 scale)
| Relative cost | 10/10 — Very high — premium pitch-carbon grades with graphitization and tight crystal-orientation control. |
|---|---|
| EM transparency | 1/10 — Very poor — conductive carbon strongly interacts with electromagnetic fields and is unsuitable for transparent radomes. |
| Temperature / fire resistance | 6/10 — Good — non-melting and stable in inert environments, but carbon oxidizes rapidly in air above roughly 425°C and polymer matrices usually limit laminates. |
| Impact / penetration resistance | 4/10 — Moderate — high stiffness and low failure strain reduce low-velocity damage tolerance and penetration energy absorption. Stored TDS elongation: 1%. |
| Electrical / thermal conductivity | 10/10 — Exceptional — pitch carbon can provide exceptional axial thermal conductivity plus electrical conduction. |
| Specific tensile strength | 8/10 — 8/10 | 2373.8 kN·m/kg | Product TDS |
| Atmospheric durability | 9/10 — Excellent — carbon fiber is intrinsically resistant to UV, moisture and salt exposure; long-term laminate durability is usually governed by sizing, matrix, galvanic coupling and interfaces rather than the fiber. |
| Sustainability (CO₂e) | 4/10 — 30.00 kg CO₂e/kg fiber — High emissions — data quality: Low |
Technical properties
| Tensile strength | 4344.0 MPa |
|---|---|
| Tensile modulus | 435.0 GPa |
| Density | 1.83 g/cm³ |
| Filament diameter | 4.9 µm |
Applications and processing
IndustrialindustrialPremium sporting goods