JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009 - 89

PREVIEW New carbon fibres > Stand G58 With the introduction of new, further-enhanced carbon fibres, Toho Tenax Europe is reinforcing its position as a carbon fibre producer and developer in Europe. The performance of the intermediate fibre product range has been further developed to meet the requirements of demanding new applications, especially in future aerospace programmes. With the introduction of the new Tenax® IMS65 24K, Toho Tenax has expanded the product range supplied from its European production base. The new IMS65 is now being commercially produced on one of the latest production lines in Germany. Tenax® UTS55 24K is a new ultra-high-tenacity fibre with enhanced tensile properties targeted for high-performance industrial applications like off-shore and pressure vessels, but also for aerospace. It can be produced on the new production line in Germany, which is currently under construction and will be finalized as scheduled in August 2009. www.tohotenax-eu.com Out-of-autoclave prepregs > Stand T50 The out-of-autoclave (OOA) prepreg material, MTM®44-1 – a 130 to 180°C cure, high-performance, toughened epoxy matrix from the Advanced Composites Group (ACG) – reached two milestones in late 2008: attaining Airbus qualification for structural applications and successfully completing testing on the first sub-scale wing box demonstrator for ‘ALCAS’ (Advanced Low Cost Aircraft Structures), a research programme aimed at validating designs and technologies for lower-cost aircraft structures. > Stand J11 Victrex has launched the PEEK™ 90HMF line of products for complex geometries with thin cross-sections or long flow lengths requiring higher strength in a static or dynamic system. These carbon fibre-based products are based on Victrex’s high-flow resin and harness a unique technology that ensures the materials retain all of the inherent properties of Victrex® PEEK™, whilst adding stiffness, strength, toughness and delivering improved fatigue performance at high temperature. The 90HMF grades are an ideal replacement option for metals and non-melt processable high-temperature plastics such as polyimides. Based on the Victrex® PEEK™ polymer, the Aptiv™ high-performance film is now available in a cosmetic black colour. The black film has the same properties as the natural colour film, but offers customers a new option when dark colour is a design requirement. Considerable interest in black film has already been registered by manufacturers of acoustic speakers and thermal acoustic insulation. The film’s excellent fatigue, power handling, and hightemperature performance, along with its outstanding acoustic qualities, offer an excellent fit for speaker diaphragms. In addition to the speaker market, the black Aptiv™ film is gaining interest in tapes, labels, and a variety of automotive and aerospace applications. www.victrex.com Victrex® Innovative PEEK-based materials Infusion-moulding extra-thick honeycomb parts > Stand R65 Nidaplast Composites, the world’s leading extruder of polypropylene honeycomb, has developed a new honeycomb product that makes it possible to infuse extra-thick sandwich structures (5-90 mm). The cells are leaktight, thanks to a plastic film that resists the pressure of the resin. Resin flow is facilitated by an interlaminar flow medium. Because of its specific structure and manufacturing process, polypropylene honeycomb is the most technically cost-effective material for creating extra-thick composite parts. Using it increases part stiffness and inertia, without increasing the weight. There are many applications for polypropylene honeycomb, including floors for niche vehicles, wind-turbine nacelles, and boat superstructures. Being able to create parts without using stiffeners saves time during design, lay-up, and processing, and enables the use of a single material, which simplifies production organization and raw-materials supply. www.nidaplast.com MTM®44-1 is optimised for low-pressure vacuum-bag processing to provide low internal void content, with performance levels comparable to standard autoclaved systems. The OOA moulding of MTM44-1 offers benefits such as reduced capital equipment outlay and savings on processing costs. The technology may facilitate the manufacture of larger and more integrated structures that would otherwise be excluded owing to their size and significant investment required for autoclave processing. Airbus and ACG have signed a framework contract that will provide commercial and technical stability to Airbus sub-contractors adopting this technology. ACG designed and manufactured the ALCAS lower cover for a structural wing box demonstrator, which was then used by partners to complete the structure using different materials, designs and manufacturing options. One demonstrator failed at 10% over the specified design ultimate load, proving the effectiveness of the concept. www.acg.co.uk No47 March-April 2009 / jec composites magazine 89

http://www.tohotenax-eu.com http://www.victrex.com http://www.nidaplast.com http://www.acg.co.uk

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

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