2x2 Twill vs Spread Tow Carbon Fiber

Our SSD Enclosure 1 comes in two carbon fiber weaves: 2x2 twill and spread tow. Both are genuine carbon fiber in the same 4 mm shell, so the choice mostly comes down to looks. The two fabrics are made differently, though, and it's worth knowing how.

2x2 twill

Carbon fabric is woven from tows, which are bundles of thousands of individual filaments. In a 2x2 twill, each tow passes over two tows and then under two, and each row steps over by one. That offset makes the diagonal pattern most people picture when they think of carbon fiber.

Twill drapes well over curves and corners, which is one reason it's so common on automotive and motorsport parts. In the light it has a deep pattern that shifts as you move around it.

Spread tow

For spread tow fabric, each tow is spread into a thin, flat tape before weaving. The wide tapes are woven over and under each other, which gives spread tow its big, crisp checkerboard.

Because the tapes are flat, the fibers bend less where they cross. Less crimp means straighter fibers, which is why spread tow turns up in performance parts where a thin, light, stiff laminate matters. The surface is smoother too, and the look is more modern and geometric.

Which one?

If you like the classic carbon look, get the twill. If you want something that reads as more technical, get the spread tow. The crimp difference matters in thin, highly loaded parts, but on SSD Enclosure 1 both weaves sit on the same 4 mm pre-preg, compression molded shell, so pick the one you like looking at.

Either weave pairs with a 6061-T6 aluminum backplate in Stealth Black, Victory Gold or Quantum Silver. If your car, bike or desk already has carbon parts, matching the weave keeps everything consistent.

Curious how the shell is made? Read how we make a carbon fiber SSD enclosure. Need carbon parts in a specific weave for your own project? See composites manufacturing.