Zylon Carbon PBO gives Loki’s W81 Wei Shihao line its spring-like rebound, the outer-composite alternative to Aryl Carbon for players who want more arc.
A springier alternative to Aryl Carbon
PBO Zylon has higher tensile strength and thermal resistance than either carbon or aramid, and a distinctive elastic character: under load it flexes further than carbon before snapping back, releasing that stored energy in a way players describe as spring-like rather than a flat, direct rebound. Woven with carbon in the outer position, it keeps enough stiffness for real pace while imparting more rotational energy and a higher trajectory arc over the net than a stiffer Aryl Carbon weave would at the same thickness.
On the W81 Wei Shihao ZC, that shows up as a genuinely different feel from the equivalent ARC blade in the same shape: Loki’s figures put it at 14.1 Speed versus the ARC’s 13.0, with a touch less Control (11.6 versus 12.0) — a blade for players who want extra dwell and arc on their loops without moving to the denser Super Zylon build.
The one Loki blade built on Zylon Carbon PBO
Loki W81 Wei Shihao ZC
- TypeOFF+
- Layers5W + 2 ZC
- Weight88g
- Speed / Control14.1 / 11.6
Common questions
Is Zylon Carbon the same as ZLC?
Functionally, yes — Zylon Carbon is Loki’s name for the same PBO-Zylon-and-carbon weave other manufacturers market as ZLC. Exact fibre density and resin ratio are not published by any manufacturer, Loki included.
Should I choose Zylon Carbon or Aryl Carbon?
Both sit outer, under the face veneer, on Loki’s W81 Wei Shihao blades. Zylon Carbon (14.1 Speed / 11.6 Control) gives more arc and dwell on the loop; Aryl Carbon (13.0 Speed / 12.0 Control) gives a flatter, more direct rebound with a little more margin for error.
Is the W81 Wei Shihao ZC legal for Table Tennis England and ITTF events?
Yes. It keeps 5 full wood plies either side of the 2 thin composite plies, meeting the ITTF construction rule for legal blades.
Related composite fibre guides
Build a bat around the Wei Shihao ZC
Match it with two rubbers in the Racket Configurator, or compare it directly with the Super Zylon build.