Hexcel to show carbon fibre products at Composites Europe
September 30, 2014 - Germany
Advanced composites producer Hexcel, said it will be showcasing its latest carbon fibre and composite technologies at Composites Europe 2014, in Stuttgart, Germany.
Hexcel will explain how innovations in carbon fibre, prepregs and weaving technologies are transforming composite structures in aerospace, automotive, wind energy and marine markets.
Automotive
Hexcel is promoting its proven fast cure system HexPly M77, that meets the needs of large volume manufacturers in the automotive and sports goods industries, offering a 2-minute press-cure cycle at 150°C (80 bar pressure).
In HexPly M77, Hexcel said it has a product that is already addressing the challenges posed by very high volume production in the automotive industry.
The low tack of HexPly M77 enables the prepreg to be cut into precise shapes by laser cutter. For automated processing the individual plies can be oriented, assembled and consolidated into a flat preform by robot.
Once in the mould HexPly M77 has an optimized gel time that allows the resin to flow into the contours to produce the precise geometries required.
It said, HexPly M77 epoxy resin is also supplied in the form of HexMC, a high performance carbon fibre/epoxy compound developed specifically for compression moulding processes with a very high fibre volume content providing excellent mechanical performance.
On Hexcel’s stand at Composites Europe there will be a number of automotive parts including spoilers for the BMW 2 series and BMW 3 series cars and the air intake for the BMW mini made by Benet Automotive s.r.o using HexPly M49 carbon fibre prepreg.
HexPly M49 is a 120°C curing toughened epoxy matrix with good impact resistance that is self-adhesive to honeycomb and can be processed using a wide range of production techniques.
Hexcel has expanded its prepreg range to meet the requirements for extra-large structures such as wind blades and yacht masts.
Hexcel developed HexPly M79 to provide a faster and lower temperature curing prepreg, with low exothermic reaction for very thick laminates.
A number of cure cycle options are possible for HexPly M79 including a very low temperature cure of 8-10 hours at 70°C or a more rapid cure cycle of just 4-6 hours at 80°C.
It is also displaying a carbon prepreg laminate consisting of 695 plies of HexPly M79 600 gsm carbon UD tape with Hexcel’s grid technology. This 400mm thick laminate is cured in just 6 hours at 80°C.
Another product, HexPly M92 prepreg for aerospace structures combines all the major benefits achieved individually with other 125°C curing epoxy resins in one new “multi-purpose” system.
“These benefits include a hot wet Tg of 115°C, allowing HexPly M92 to operate at higher service temperatures from a lower temperature cure”, Hexcel said.
It will also display a Helicopter Rotor Hub Cap Fairing manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. This oven-cured part is a honeycomb sandwich structure in which the prepreg is bonded directly to the non-metallic core, without any additional adhesive.
According to Hexcel, Airbus Helicopters estimates weight savings of 8 to mould, resulting in a shorter cure cycle.
Another product, HiTape advanced dry carbon fibre reinforcements combine the benefits of automated processing with the cost-effectiveness of Out of Autoclave infusion technologies for next generation aircraft primary structures.
It informed that, HiTape allows preforms to be manufactured in a fully automated lay-up process, with high deposition rates.
Hexcel has added to its range of IM and AS fibres by launching a new High Modulus carbon fibre, called HexTow HM63.
This new fibre has the highest tensile strength of any HM fibre and provides outstanding translation of fibre properties in a composite, including superior interlaminar shear and compression strength.
“So, HexTow HM63 is therefore ideal for any high stiffness and strength-critical applications including space, satellites, UAV, commercial aerospace and helicopters”, the composites maker said.
It added, “It also meets the special requirements for premium sports and recreation applications including F1, marine craft, bikes and fishing rods.” (AR)
Hexcel will explain how innovations in carbon fibre, prepregs and weaving technologies are transforming composite structures in aerospace, automotive, wind energy and marine markets.
Automotive
Hexcel is promoting its proven fast cure system HexPly M77, that meets the needs of large volume manufacturers in the automotive and sports goods industries, offering a 2-minute press-cure cycle at 150°C (80 bar pressure).
In HexPly M77, Hexcel said it has a product that is already addressing the challenges posed by very high volume production in the automotive industry.
The low tack of HexPly M77 enables the prepreg to be cut into precise shapes by laser cutter. For automated processing the individual plies can be oriented, assembled and consolidated into a flat preform by robot.
Once in the mould HexPly M77 has an optimized gel time that allows the resin to flow into the contours to produce the precise geometries required.
It said, HexPly M77 epoxy resin is also supplied in the form of HexMC, a high performance carbon fibre/epoxy compound developed specifically for compression moulding processes with a very high fibre volume content providing excellent mechanical performance.
On Hexcel’s stand at Composites Europe there will be a number of automotive parts including spoilers for the BMW 2 series and BMW 3 series cars and the air intake for the BMW mini made by Benet Automotive s.r.o using HexPly M49 carbon fibre prepreg.
HexPly M49 is a 120°C curing toughened epoxy matrix with good impact resistance that is self-adhesive to honeycomb and can be processed using a wide range of production techniques.
Hexcel has expanded its prepreg range to meet the requirements for extra-large structures such as wind blades and yacht masts.
Hexcel developed HexPly M79 to provide a faster and lower temperature curing prepreg, with low exothermic reaction for very thick laminates.
A number of cure cycle options are possible for HexPly M79 including a very low temperature cure of 8-10 hours at 70°C or a more rapid cure cycle of just 4-6 hours at 80°C.
It is also displaying a carbon prepreg laminate consisting of 695 plies of HexPly M79 600 gsm carbon UD tape with Hexcel’s grid technology. This 400mm thick laminate is cured in just 6 hours at 80°C.
Another product, HexPly M92 prepreg for aerospace structures combines all the major benefits achieved individually with other 125°C curing epoxy resins in one new “multi-purpose” system.
“These benefits include a hot wet Tg of 115°C, allowing HexPly M92 to operate at higher service temperatures from a lower temperature cure”, Hexcel said.
It will also display a Helicopter Rotor Hub Cap Fairing manufactured by Airbus Helicopters. This oven-cured part is a honeycomb sandwich structure in which the prepreg is bonded directly to the non-metallic core, without any additional adhesive.
According to Hexcel, Airbus Helicopters estimates weight savings of 8 to mould, resulting in a shorter cure cycle.
Another product, HiTape advanced dry carbon fibre reinforcements combine the benefits of automated processing with the cost-effectiveness of Out of Autoclave infusion technologies for next generation aircraft primary structures.
It informed that, HiTape allows preforms to be manufactured in a fully automated lay-up process, with high deposition rates.
Hexcel has added to its range of IM and AS fibres by launching a new High Modulus carbon fibre, called HexTow HM63.
This new fibre has the highest tensile strength of any HM fibre and provides outstanding translation of fibre properties in a composite, including superior interlaminar shear and compression strength.
“So, HexTow HM63 is therefore ideal for any high stiffness and strength-critical applications including space, satellites, UAV, commercial aerospace and helicopters”, the composites maker said.
It added, “It also meets the special requirements for premium sports and recreation applications including F1, marine craft, bikes and fishing rods.” (AR)