Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber vs. Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber
Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber (Hexcel Corporation) and Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber (Toray Composite Materials America) achieve a 98.7% ASTM engineering compatibility score in Carbon Fiber Fabrics (3K / 6K / 12K), Spread-Tow & Prepregs. Tensile strength delta is +10 MPa (+0.2%) and thermal HDT delta is matched, making them qualified for direct drop-in substitution under standard cure schedules.
Side-by-Side ASTM Mechanical, Thermal, Rheological & Pricing Delta
| ASTM Parameter | A: Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber (Hexcel Corporation) | B: Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber (Toray Composite Materials America) | Engineering Delta (A vs. B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM Manufacturer & SKU | Hexcel Corporation • HXL-AS4-12K | Toray Composite Materials America • TOR-M40J-6K | Cross-Brand OEM Equivalent |
| ASTM D638 Tensile Strength (MPa / PSI) | 4410 MPa (639,618 psi) | 4400 MPa (638,167 psi) | +10 MPa (+0.2 %) |
| ASTM D648 Heat Deflection Temp (HDT °C / °F) | N/A | N/A | Ambient / N/A |
| ASTM D790 Flexural Strength (MPa) | 1680 MPa | 1720 MPa | -40 MPa (-2.3 %) |
| ASTM D2583 Barcol Hardness | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| ASTM D2196 Brookfield Viscosity @ 25°C | Solid Reinforcement / Core | Solid Reinforcement / Core | Solid State |
| Gel Time @ 25°C (Minutes) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| ASTM D792 Specific Density (kg/m³) | 1790 kg/m³ | 1790 kg/m³ | 0 kg/m³ |
| US DOT 49 CFR & TDG Hazmat Class | Non-Regulated Industrial Fiber (N/A) | Non-Regulated Industrial Fiber (N/A) | Identical (N/A) |
| Unit Price ($/kg USD) & Pack Price | $44.5/kg • $2,003 (100 yd Roll (45 kg)) | $128/kg • $5,760 (100 yd Roll (45 kg)) | -83.5 $/kg (-65.2 %) |
| US Stocking Warehouses | Tacoma, WA • Stamford, CT • Anderson, SC | Tacoma, WA • Stamford, CT • Anderson, SC | 1–3 Days LTL Dispatch |
Companion process stack: Low-Viscosity Infusion Epoxy (Gurit Prime 37 / Hexion RIMR 135 / Araldite LY 1564) + Stoichiometric Amine Hardener. Follow SIZE COMPATIBILITY: Use Epoxy-compatible silane sizing with Structural Epoxy Resins (approx. 55:45 fiber-to-resin weight ratio in vacuum infusion). ITAR/EAR export screening applies.
Direct Drop-In Qualified: Thermal deflection (ASTM D648 HDT) differs by only 0 °C (N/A °C vs. N/A °C). Existing mold cure and demold cycles can be maintained without thermal schedule modification.
Identical Hazmat Logistics Profile: Both SKUs ship under US DOT 49 CFR & Transport Canada TDG as Non-Regulated Industrial Fiber (UN Number: N/A). Note 49 CFR § 177.848 segregation if ordering with Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides (UN3105).
Engineering FAQ: Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber vs. Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber
1. Is Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber a direct drop-in equivalent for Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber?▼
Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber (Hexcel Corporation) and Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber (Toray Composite Materials America) achieve a 98.7% ASTM engineering compatibility score in Carbon Fiber Fabrics (3K / 6K / 12K), Spread-Tow & Prepregs. Tensile strength delta is +10 MPa (+0.2%) and thermal HDT delta is matched, making them qualified for direct drop-in substitution under standard cure schedules.
2. What is the ASTM D638 Tensile Strength and ASTM D648 HDT difference between Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber and Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber?▼
Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber (Hexcel Corporation) delivers ASTM D638 Tensile Strength of 4410 MPa (639,618 psi) and ASTM D648 HDT of N/A °C, whereas Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber (Toray Composite Materials America) delivers 4400 MPa (638,167 psi) and HDT of N/A °C. The net delta is +10 MPa (+0.2 %) tensile and N/A HDT.
3. Do Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber and Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber use the same catalyst or hardener cure system?▼
Companion process stack: Low-Viscosity Infusion Epoxy (Gurit Prime 37 / Hexion RIMR 135 / Araldite LY 1564) + Stoichiometric Amine Hardener. Follow SIZE COMPATIBILITY: Use Epoxy-compatible silane sizing with Structural Epoxy Resins (approx. 55:45 fiber-to-resin weight ratio in vacuum infusion). ITAR/EAR export screening applies. Direct Drop-In Qualified: Thermal deflection (ASTM D648 HDT) differs by only 0 °C (N/A °C vs. N/A °C). Existing mold cure and demold cycles can be maintained without thermal schedule modification.
4. How do US DOT 49 CFR Hazmat shipping rules and B2B drum/pack prices compare between Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber and Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber?▼
Identical Hazmat Logistics Profile: Both SKUs ship under US DOT 49 CFR & Transport Canada TDG as Non-Regulated Industrial Fiber (UN Number: N/A). Note 49 CFR § 177.848 segregation if ordering with Class 5.2 Organic Peroxides (UN3105). In US B2B distribution, Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber is priced at $2,003 per 100 yd Roll (45 kg) ($44.5/kg) vs. $5,760 per 100 yd Roll (45 kg) ($128/kg) for Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber (delta: -83.5 USD/kg).
Related Drop-In Comparisons in Carbon Fiber Fabrics (3K / 6K / 12K), Spread-Tow & Prepregs
Hexcel HexTow AS4 12K Aerospace Qualified Carbon Fiber (Hexcel Corporation) and Toray Torayca M40J High-Modulus Pitch/PAN Carbon Fiber (Toray Composite Materials America) are trademarks of their respective owners. CompositeMatrix Technologies Inc. is an independent North American B2B composite material intelligence registry; comparative ASTM D638, D648, D790, D2583, and D2196 figures are presented under the US legal doctrine of Nominative Fair Use (Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125) and Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. (499 U.S. 340) for scientific and industrial cross-reference. Cure schedules, exotherm behavior, and laminate qualification must be verified by a licensed Naval Architect or Professional Engineer (PE) against current manufacturer batch Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).