Multicompatible roving gives fast wetout

M Multicompatible roving gives fast wetout

Phenolic e~nds FRP pot~Hfe the GP5018/GP4839 RESI-SET phenolic resin system ~ also be u~ to extend pot-life in other fibre reinforced including pultrusion, resin transfer moulding and hand lay-up. products made s u p e r i o r f l a m e resistance and low smoke generation expected w i t h phenolics. Applications, therefore, are exp e c t e d in industries such as transportation, aerospace and construction where fire, smoke and toxicity are of conc e ~ . RF~I-SET is avaiable in drums and b ~ k Sheila Weidman, Georgia-Pacific; tel: + 1-404-521-4732; fax: + 1-404-521-5199.

A ROVING t h a t will c o u p l e with polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, p h e n o l i c , u r e t h a n e a n d f u r a n resins gives fast w e t o u t t h a n k s to its low sizing content. M a n u f a c t u r e r Fiberglass I n d u s t r i e s uses its own E-glass w h i c h is specially e n g i n e e r e d for woven roving. Fast w e t o u t is achieved b e c a u s e the p r o d u c t has a low loss on ignition (LOI). This m e a n s t h a t t h e r e is not a n e x c e s s i v e a m o u n t of s i z i n g t h a t n e e d s t o be b r o k e n down by the styrene

in the resin. S u p e r 317 is stiff e n o u g h to be cut p r i o r to impregnation by t h e resin, b u t d r a p e s and conforms after contact with styrene. The m o i s t u r e cont e n t is c o n t r o l l e d below" 0.05% a n d t h e r e a r e no w h i t e s p o t s in t h e laminate. The m a t e r i a l can be s u p p l i e d in any w i d t h and customized weights are available on request.

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thermoset and thermoplastic p r e p r e g systems. It is i n t e n d e d for use in aircraft interiors and meets the m o s t s t r i n g e n t fire requirem e n t s (no burn, no s m o k e a n d no toxicity). It is also thermoformable and does not a b s o r b moisture. The m a t e r i a l is available in s h e e t form a n d in thicknesses from 5-70 mm.

Fire-resistant foam core can be recycled

AIREX R82 foam core c o a t e d with a t h e r m o p l a s tic skin is the first sandwich m a t e r i a l to be easily recyclable, says its m a n u f a c t u r e r Airex. The core m a t e r i a l has a service t e m p e r a t u r e r a n g e o f - 1 9 4 ° C to 180~C a n d is compatible with existing

Thomas Flanagan, Fiberglass Industries; tel: +1-518-842-4000; fax: + 1-518-842-4408.

Frank Brinken, A i r e x Ltd; tel: + 41-42-660066.

Additives improve t h e r m o s e t properties COATEX DO UP-6L is a dispersion agent designed principally f o r u s e in p o l y e s t e r resin systems. It allows i m p r o v e d d i s p e r sion of fillers. A s m a l l a d d i t i o n to the resin allows m o r e f i l l e r t o b e a d d e d w i t h o u t increasing the viscosity. This is especially u s e f u l w h e n h i g h l o a d i n g s of a l u m i n a trih y d r a t e are r e q u i r e d to achieve low smoke, halogen-free flame-retardant formulations, s a y s UKb a s e d C r o x t o n a n d Garry. Microglas Glass F l a k e can i m p r o v e the w e a r a n d chemical r e s i s t a n c e of gelcoats a n d linings of glass fibre reinforced plastic

p r o d u c t s . It can t h u s ext e n d t h e p r o d u c t ' s life. A d d i t i o n of t h e glass flake also h a r d e n s the surface of t h e layer a n d gives b e t t e r a b r a s i o n resistance. It is a v a i l a b l e in t h r e e sizes, RCF600, RCF140 and RCF015, w h e r e the n u m ber is t h e flake length in micrometres. Special grades of cobaltbased Lagorex accelerators can r e d u c e the typical p i n k or green c o l o u r which a p p e a r s in u n s a t u r a t e d p o l y e s t e r resins. A c o m b i n a t i o n of high p i g m e n t loading with minimal carrier vehicle has r e s u l t e d in P l a s t i s p e r s e c o l o r a n t s for bulk m o u l d -

ing c o m p o u n d s . T h e s e lowdusting, flee-flowing, granular dispersions contain 60-80% of p i g m e n t a n d a relatively low c o n t e n t of an u n s a t u r a t e d , low molecular weight p o l y e s t e r resin. The p i g m e n t loadings are higher than traditional liquid d i s p e r s i o n s so less Plastisperse is r e q u i r e d to p r o d u c e the same results. Very i n t e n s e b l a c k s a r e possible. Plasticolors is a c o n d u c t i v e black dispersion for c o m p o u n d s which need r e d u c e d surface resistivity.

Bill Cardew, Crowton and Garry; tel: +44-306886688; fax: + 44-306887780.

R E I N F O R C E D PLASTICS S E V r E M B E R 1993

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ATERIALS NEWN

Phenolic SMC is stronger than UP

A PHENOLIC sheet moulding c o m p o u n d (SMC) has s u p e r i o r Ilexural strength p r o p e r t i e s at higher temperatures than u n s a t u r a t e d p o l y e s t e r (UP) alternatives, says To~o-based Japan U-Pica. The company's SMC has a flexural s t r e n g t h o f 160200 M P a a n d a heat d e f o r m a t i o n temperature over 220°C. T h e glass f i b r e l o a d i n g is O 26,30% by w e i g h t and the sheet weighs 3.5 k g / m 2, reports Modern

Plastics International. J a p a n U-Pica Co:, Lino Building, 2-1-1, Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan.