Overview
SIST EN ISO 13002:2000, titled "Carbon Fibre - Designation System for Filament Yarns," is an international standard established by CEN that defines a systematic classification and designation system for carbon fibre filament yarns. This standard serves as a foundational reference for specifying filament yarns used primarily as reinforcement in polymer composites. By standardizing terminology and classification, it facilitates clear communication and consistency across manufacturers, suppliers, and end-users in the carbon fibre industry.
The standard explicitly excludes discontinuous fibre forms such as staple yarns, woven fabrics, braids, knits, and mats. Instead, it focuses on continuous filament yarns and specifies a designation system based on essential mechanical and physical properties.
Key Topics
Designation System Structure
The designation system is constructed around a standardized pattern consisting of:
- Identity Block: Includes the International Standard number and an individual-item block.
- Individual-Item Block: Subdivided into three data blocks:
- Data Block 1: Identifies precursor yarn and product form (e.g., acrylic fibre, viscose fibre, pitch fibre).
- Data Block 2: Details designatory properties like tensile modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and linear density.
- Data Block 3 (optional): Contains additional application-specific information.
Classification by Key Properties
Filament yarns are classified based on three crucial properties:
- Tensile Modulus of Elasticity (GPa): Represents yarn stiffness, coded using a three-digit number corresponding to the range of gigapascals.
- Tensile Strength (MPa): Indicates yarn strength, coded with a two-digit number reflecting measured stress limits.
- Linear Density (tex): Specifies yarn weight per unit length, coded by a four-digit number representing tex values.
Practical Guidelines
The standard clarifies that identical designations do not guarantee uniform performance due to manufacturing variations. Moreover, it does not include engineering or performance data, which must be specified separately for particular applications.
Additional Specification Options
Data Block 3 allows optional specification of critical parameters such as:
- Single filament diameter or cross-sectional area
- Number and direction of yarn twist
- Surface or size treatments, including compatibility with resins
- Thermal oxidation stability
These options enable tailoring the designation to meet specific processing or end-use requirements.
Applications
The SIST EN ISO 13002:2000 designation system is widely applicable in industries utilizing carbon fibre filament yarns for polymer composite reinforcement, including:
- Aerospace and Aviation: Enhancing strength-to-weight ratio of composite components.
- Automotive Manufacturing: Improving durability and reducing weight in vehicle parts.
- Sporting Goods: Producing high-performance equipment such as bicycles, racquets, and tennis rackets.
- Industrial Equipment: Strengthening mechanical parts and structural elements.
- Wind Energy: Designing lightweight yet robust composite blades.
By providing a clear framework to specify filament yarns, this standard assists suppliers and manufacturers in ensuring reproducible product quality and compatibility with composite production methods.
Related Standards
To support the application of SIST EN ISO 13002:2000, several normative references are essential for full implementation:
- ISO 1889:1997 – Determination of linear density for reinforcement yarns.
- ISO 10618 (forthcoming) – Method for determining tensile properties of resin-impregnated carbon fibre yarns.
These complementary standards provide the test methods required to accurately classify filament yarns according to SIST EN ISO 13002:2000 requirements.
Keywords: EN ISO 13002, carbon fibre designation, filament yarns, polymer composites reinforcement, tensile modulus, tensile strength, linear density, carbon fibre classification, composite materials, textile standards, carbon fibre yarns specification.