JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #140 - May/June 2021 - 54

HIGH-PERFORMANCE RESINS FOR
AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS
RAMPF is presenting a new line of liquid resin systems
for the aerospace sector and other industries requiring
superior structural properties. The room-temperature RTM
and infusion resin systems developed by the group offer
exceptional structural properties matching and exceeding
those of common prepreg and one-component
systems, high glass transition temperatures
(210°C) and excellent processing characteristic at
low temperatures. This enables the cost-effective manufacturing of
structural components without the need for expensive tooling and
infrastructure. With the increasing requirements for FST-compliant
composite structures, RAMPF also developed a family of FST resin
systems that cover all standard OEM and regulatory requirements
for use in interior components and secondary structural parts.
A fast-cure option for high-volume interior components is available
to offer a solution for RTM and infusion processing of high-end
components. Furthermore, a high-Tg variant is best suited for
applications exposed to higher service temperatures up to 150°C
and extreme humidity conditions. All resin systems are formulated
and optimized for RTM and infusion processing with a focus on low
processing temperatures to achieve low processing and infrastructure
costs and to enable maximum flexibility in the manufacturing
environment. RAMPF now also offers full technical and engineering
support for all composite processing and component development
needs. www.rampf-group.com
MATRIX is a line of predispersed
graphene nanotube
concentrates that make it possible to
produce thermoset and thermoplastic
products with a unique combination
stable, uniform conductivity with improved
mechanical performance. Electricallyconductive
gelcoats and mould coats; conductive and reinforced fibreglass pipes,
tanks, gratings, and cable trays; various products made by filament winding,
pultrusion, hand lay-up, SMC/BMC and spraying methods - these are only a few
examples of products with significantly improved properties thanks to graphene
nanotubes. Ultra-conductive, strong and flexible graphene nanotubes create
a robust 3D conductive network inside polymers at very low concentrations,
starting from 0.01% of the total compound weight. Such low loadings do
not affect the compound's rheology or the final colour of the product. The
TUBALLTM
MATRIX concentrates available for epoxy, acrylic, polyester, phenolic,
polyurethane, and vinyl-ester resins are designed to simplify nanotube handling
with minimal changes in formulation or processing.
Demonstrating a clear set of benefits in comparison with standard agents,
graphene nanotubes have already been widely adopted by industry as an
anti-static agent. Also, graphene nanotube solutions for the reinforcement of
composites are in the development and industry validation stage; the first products
will be the lightest high-pressure cylinders in the world and reinforced bicycles.
www.tuball.com
THERMHEX HONEYCOMB CORES WITH A SMALL CELL SIZE
ThermHex produces thermoplastic honeycomb cores for low-cost sandwich panels and parts. The product range was recently enlarged
with a core that has a 20mm height and a smaller cell size of 5mm, which is half the size of the former product. A smaller cell size leads
to much better surface quality, e.g. for visible interior and exterior surfaces in automotive applications, as it achieves Class A surface
quality depending on the skin layer. Furthermore, it enables the use of honeycomb cores in even more applications. Soon the range of
standard honeycomb core with a 10mm height will be available with the smaller cell size of 5mm, enabling the core material to be used
in an even wider variety of applications. ThermHex polypropylene honeycomb cores are used wherever high-quality products with an optimum
strength-to-weight ratio are required. This includes automotive, boat, yacht, and shipbuilding, interior and furniture, building and construction,
wind and solar energy, swimming pool and prefabricated bathroom applications. By reducing the weight in structural parts of many products, the
improved, lower-cost lightweight sandwich panels and parts help to lessen environmental impact, contribute to sustainability and also save costs.
All honeycomb cores are recyclable, resistant to moisture, acids and bases (reducing replacement costs), and are produced with a very small CO2
footprint using green power. www.thermhex.com
A REACH INTO THE GREEN FUTURE OF SPECIALITY POLYMERS
Bitrez Ltd., Europe's leading designer and manufacturer of speciality polymers and chemicals, will showcase further work around regulatory
compliance at JEC Composites Connect 2021. New products that are being offered include CMR- and SVHC-free grades designed to offer
a future-proof alternative to existing hazardous petrochemical derivatives while maintaining or enhancing desirable performance properties.
New products were formulated for REACH compliance, including EU-REACH, UK-REACH, and even K-REACH, with increased molecular
weight variants formulated and processed to exceed the 1000 Da polymeric threshold.
This enables the formulation of products that can truly be supplied to a global market. In addition to meeting worldwide
regulatory requirements, they are designed to be robust and tolerant of a variety of climatic conditions. Among these
products are some new bio-based materials including the new chemistry, coined Furalkamine, the latest series of
innovative bio-based epoxy curing agents obtained by the hydrogenation of pentosane-rich biomass, such as corn
cobs, sugar cane bagasse and rice hulls.
Poly-Mannich base grades provide enhanced performance and cure over a broad range of temperatures, with a reduced safety rating. These
products complement the existing portfolio that is already rich in high-performance regulatory-compliant bio-based products, providing
outstanding performance and longevity in a myriad of lightweight composite applications. www.bitrez.com
24
jec composites magazine / No
140 May - June 2021
CONDUCTIVITY AND REINFORCEMENT
WITH GRAPHENE NANOTUBES
TUBALLTM
of
Multi-sector
Multi-sector
Aerospace
Multi-sector

http://www.rampf-group.com http://www.tuball.com http://www.thermhex.com http://www.bitrez.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #140 - May/June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #140 - May/June 2021