JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009 - 86

SPECIAL jec composites show 2009 New nanotechnology > Stand G65 adhesives Huntsman Advanced Materials will soon be offering a new nano-toughened epoxy paste adhesive with outstanding mechanical properties for aircraft structural metal and composite bonding and repairs that far exceed aircraft requirements at low, ambient and relatively high temperatures. Specific, dispersed organic nanoparticles are incorporated into an epoxy system to give Araldite® EP1000AB outstanding toughening features. The average particle size is definitely submicron, inhibiting micro-crack propagation whilst leaving the continuous cured epoxy matrix able to perform at relatively high temperatures. A unique catalyst means that an autoclave should not be required. Curing takes place at moderate conditions well below 100°C and storage is at ambient temperatures for at least six months. Araldite® EP1000AB is part of a group of nanotechnology toughened epoxy resins whose outstanding mechanical characteristics together with their ease of application and storage features make them promising candidates for other applications such as the bonding and repair of wind blades. Epocast® 1614-A1 is a preformed, cured and void-free epoxy-based syntactic product which, because it is void free, results in greater integral strength and higher compressive strength than conventional techniques at temperatures up to 177°C. It can be used on honeycomb composite parts for fastener or attachment potting and panel edge reinforcing. Epocast® 1614-A1 is part of the Eposert® epoxy insert range which can reduce the time required to reinforce honeycomb sections by up to 95% by eliminating weighing, mixing, gelling and curing procedures. The precision obtained by using Eposert® epoxy inserts reduces the quantity of reinforced materials used, hence reducing the part weight. www.huntsman.com/advanced_materials Innovative fire-resistant resins > Stand H44 Composite parts that meet building and transportation fire standards are generally fire retardant but not fire resistant. This means that the structural integrity of the composite will not last forever during a fire. It will generally last long enough to escape a building, but a fire-resistant structure will notably increase the security level. An extensive market analysis revealed three opportunities for significantly new fireresistant systems in the composite industry. The first opportunity relies on the increasing need to improve our safety in daily life. The second opportunity was for a resin that would enable composite manufacturers to get rid of phenolics. Finally, the third opportunity was to provide the market with a solution meeting the new European railway standard (EN 45545). To answer these needs, Cray Valley is introducing a new fire-resistant system that meets very stringent requirements in terms of heat release, smoke opacity and toxicity. Specific resin and gelcoat grades have been developed for each market. For instance, a M1F1 system compliant with French standards is available for the building market, and a HL2/HL3 solution has been developed for the railway sector (EN 45545). The main benefits in comparison with existing products are: easier part processing (hand lay-up, spray up, pultrusion, etc.), improved cosmetics, productivity increase, and safer solutions (halogen- and CMR-free). The polyester industry can now lead the fire safety race! www.crayvalley.com New glass fibre biomaterial for the medical device implant market > Stand M25 Due to increasing market demand for higher-performing biocompatible composite solutions, AGY has launched a new glass fibre biomaterial reinforcement targeting the medical device implant market. The new biomaterial, HPB™ glass fibre, is suitable for long-term implant applications of over 30 days and is compatible with a wide range of thermoplastic polymers such as PEEK, PEI and PPS. In addition to biocompatibility, HPB glass fibre delivers superior impact, tensile strength and modulus mechanical properties over standard glass fibre products. For example, it exhibits 40% higher tensile strength and 20% higher tensile modulus compared with ordinary E-Glass fibre. The high elastic resistance of HPB glass fibre enables medical or dental devices to be developed for extended long-term implant requirements. AGY has secured success in multiple composite applications for the oral environment such as orthodontics and dental implants, crowns, and bridges, and is also pursuing other proprietary medical device applications that demand a biocompatible structural composite reinforcement, such as orthopaedics. HPB glass fibre uses a proprietary glass processing technology and is available in a wide range of chopped, yarn, and roving formats, individually tailored to customer demands. It belongs to the S-3 Glass™ fibre family of special-grade products that have properties specifically tailored for high-performance applications. AGY’s HPB glass fibre biomaterial is only available on the marketplace via an AGY supply agreement. Further details of these arrangements are available upon request. www.agy.com 86 jec composites magazine / No47 March-April 2009

http://www.crayvalley.com http://www.huntsman.com/advanced_materials http://www.agy.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009