At JEC World 2020 from March 3-5, Hexcel will display components and models from marine composite specialists Gunboat and a leading UK superyacht builder, as well as showcase a new low-temperature adhesive film. Hexcel is an advanced composites company that develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials.

Hexcel offers a comprehensive range of DNV GL approved multiaxial fabrics, woven reinforcements, and prepregs aimed at builders of high-performance racing yachts and luxury yachts. Hexcel materials are used for hull and deck structures and for masts and appendages on the most advanced composite marine structures, including racing yachts for the America’s Cup and Imoca class.

Innovations on display at JEC will include Hexcel’s HiMax carbon multiaxials and PrimeTex woven carbon fabrics for Gunboat 68, new HexBondTM Low-Temperature Adhesive Film, HexPly M79 Prepregs for Short Cycle Times, HexPly XF2 Surfacing Prepreg and HexPly SuperFIT Prepregs, HexTow HM54 Carbon Fiber.

A scale model of the fast, technologically advanced and elegantly designed sailing catamaran will be on display, illustrating how HiMax reinforcements are used to infuse the hull and deck structures of this stunning series-built yacht. Hexcel supplies an optimised package of carbon fibre multiaxial fabrics with fibre weights, fabric architecture, and product width specifically tailored to Gunboat’s epoxy infusion build process. Hexcel PrimeTex fabrics are used as the outermost layer in the yacht’s construction with the patented fibre spreading process producing a flatter and more uniform surface finish.

The new HexBond 679 is a 250gsm epoxy adhesive film formulated to be fully compatible with the HexPly M79 prepreg range. Fully cured in only four hours at 80°C, this prepreg adhesive film system offers huge cycle time reductions, provides strong lap shear and peel strength performance, and delivers outstanding mechanical properties in foam and honeycomb sandwich structures.

The HexPly M79 prepregs can be cured at 70°C for eight hours or 80°C for four hours, increasing build rates with reduced heating and cooling times. When combined with Hexcel’s innovative air venting grid technology, HexPly M79 UD carbon tapes can be laminated with reduced debulking steps to produce void contents <1 per cent, irrespective of laminate thickness. With consistently low void contents and improved mechanical properties, naval architects and marine design engineers are now able to further optimize highly loaded composite structures.

Hexcel will demonstrate the exceptional surface finish provided by HexPly XF2 surfacing prepreg as it exhibits a hardtop sun canopy section from a leading UK superyacht builder and a small-scale hull superstructure component.

HexPly XF2 is a highly drapable single ply prepreg surfacing solution. With a tacky surface for excellent adhesion in the mould and an integrated structural layer providing huge lay-up efficiencies, HexPly XF2 delivers a high-quality pinhole-free finish straight from the mould, reducing finishing and paint preparation time significantly.

The superstructure component on display also features carbon fibre HexPly SuperFIT prepregs (semi-pregs) providing structural strength below the carbon fibre XF2 surface layer.

Hexcel’s SuperFIT products are only partially impregnated with one dry face and one tacky face for easy positioning in the mould, holding each ply to the next. The air pathways in the dry fabric face facilitate the removal of air or volatiles from the laminate, minimising voids without time consuming debulking steps. For marine applications, the use of HexPly M79 SuperFIT prepregs allow rapid cure cycles at low temperatures and are easy to process in conjunction with conventional HexPly M79 prepregs.

Hexcel’s carbon fibres provide leading strength and modulus in highly demanding applications. Following the legacy of dependable HexTow carbon fibres like IM2C, HM63, IM8 and others used in marine applications, Hexcel has developed a new high modulus fibre, HexTow HM54. This new fibre offers a higher stiffness that is ideal for applications like masts and foils in the marine industry.