JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #111 - March 2017 - Special JEC World - 26

MANUFACTURING

26
29
32
34

Resin
Software
Simulation
Automatic process

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40
44
46

Pultrusion
Integrated process
3D printing
AFP

MANUFACTURING resin

New epoxies for styrene-free
high-performance SMC
ALEX SCHMIDT, Senior Development Engineer
IAN SWENTEK, Application Development Engineer
ALAIN LEROY, Senior Automotive Applications Engineer
SIGRID TER HEIDE, Global Market Development
Manager Transportation
Hexion Inc.

he automotive industry is facing
tighter and tighter guidelines for
reducing CO2 emissions and fuel
consumption. Thanks to composite
materials, automakers can achieve significant weight savings to comply with
these requirements. In comparison with
similar manufacturing methods, the
sheet moulding compound (SMC) process boasts a very high volume production ability, cost-effectiveness through
low labour requirements, and substantial scrap reduction. This low scrap rate
is particularly important in the case of
valuable carbon fibre reinforcement -
SMC facilitates the use of recycled carbon fibre. Furthermore, the large, existing SMC industry capacity means new
line investments are often unnecessary.
Traditional SMC systems are based on

Hexion's new styrene-free, low-VOC epoxy system for sheet moulding compound (SMC) leads to high-performance semi-structural and
structural automotive composite parts. On equipment used for other
types of SMC, it achieves high-volume, lightweight parts, with no
need for styrene exposure tracking.

resins dissolved in styrene. However,
for passenger and worker safety, the
automotive industry is demanding styrene-free alternatives. To address this need, Hexion is introducing EPIKOTETM Resin TRAC 06605
/ EPIKURETM Curing Agent TRAC
06608. This new epoxy system facilitates styrene-free and low volatile organic compound (VOC) SMC manufacturing. The system has low viscosity
with good flow and fibre wetting properties, and can be supplied with internal mould release agent HELOXY TM
Additive TRAC 06805 for easier demoulding. The system is fully compatible with other epoxy composite materials on the market.
The value of styrene-free,
low VOC epoxy systems
Workers using unsaturated polyester
(UP) or vinylester (VE) resin systems

jec composites magazine / No111 March 2017

are exposed to evaporating styrene
monomer [1]. A number of European
standards outline requirements for
evaluating workplace environments
and limiting worker exposure to styrene. By switching to epoxy systems,
manufacturers can avoid styrene monomer emissions - and the complexities
of managing occupational exposure in
their plants.
VOCs are legally defined in various
Tab 1: Total VOC according to VDA 278 thermal
desorption analysis of organic emissions on Hexion
epoxy SMC versus standard and low-VOC vinylester
SMC systems
Standard Low-VOC
vinylester vinylester
SMC
SMC [2]
Total
>10,000
VOC (µg/g)

664

EPIKOTE Resin TRAC
06605 / EPIKURE
Curing Agent TRAC
06608
9*

* All organic emissions are below international short term
exposure limits (STEL) and 8-hour total weight averages (TWA)

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #111 - March 2017 - Special JEC World