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US$1 million grant to research carbon fiber
Reinforced Plastics Volume 61, Number 6 November/December 2017
TECHNOLOGY
The US University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) has received a US$1 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to continue its research in developing low-cost, high-strength carbon fiber. The center’s Carbon Materials Technologies Group received the award for a project entitled ‘Precursor Processing Development for Low Cost, High Strength Carbon Fiber for Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel Applications.’ The funding is part of DOE’s strategy to invest in materials for hydrogen storage and for fuel cells onboard light-duty vehicles. The team will investigate issues in precursor fiber development that can contribute to the cost of carbon fiber, namely high polymer cost, inefficient water use and solvent recovery, low fiber throughput, energy intensive conversion, and high coefficient of variation (CV). If successful, the
Matt Weisenberger, associate director of UK CAER's Carbon Materials Technologies Group, showcases the center's carbon fiber spinning capabilities.
project could lower the cost of high quality carbon fibers by over 50%, the researchers say. ‘We appreciate DOE’s confidence in our carbon fiber research and development efforts here at UK CAER,’ said Matt Weisenberger, associate director of the Carbon
Materials Technologies Group. ‘It is our hope that this project will show great promise for the future of carbon fiber for pressure vessels and many other commercial applications.’ University of Kentucky; www.uky.edu
Hexion launches adhesive for engineered wood lamination Hexion Inc has introduced a new twocomponent adhesive system for applications such as cross-laminated timbers for tall wood buildings and glue-laminated wood beams. The adhesive system includes the Ecobind 6500 resin and Wonderbond Hardener
M650Y which exceed all strength, exterior exposure and high-temperature requirements of the North American Structural Wood standards. ‘Hexion provides the enabling lamination technology for one of the most sustainable products on earth – engineered wood,’
said Scott McIntyre, North American business director for adhesives. ‘To ensure the lasting durability and performance of these sustainable engineered wood materials, we have had this new adhesive tested by multiple third party organizations.’ Hexion; www.hexion.com
of 85 psi (6 bar). If Autoclave curing is preferred the recommended cycle is a ramp up of 2–5 8F per minute to 300 8F (149 8C) with a minimum 85 psi (6 bar). Depending on the tooling design and material a dwell may be required. M77HF is suitable for processing parameters that require additional resin flow for surface quality, compaction or low voids.
According to Hexcel, the prepreg has good resin transparency, provides improved surface quality (without pinholes), and can be supplied with black pigmented resin. Typical applications include sports equipment, automotive parts and industrial components, such as prosthetics and braces.
Hexcel launches fast-curing prepreg Hexcel has developed HexPly M77HF epoxy prepreg which could reduce cure cycles by up to 90% compared to standard epoxy prepregs. It has a three-minute cure cycle using low pressure processing techniques such as cello-wrapping, simple presses, bladder molding and vacuum-only pressure. The typical cure cycle in a press is three minutes at 300 8F (149 8C) with a minimum
Hexcel; www.hexcel.com
Hexcel to create carbon fiber fabrics for aircraft parts Hexcel plans to launch a »7.4 million research and development project to develop carbon fiber materials for large aerospace and automotive composite structures.
The four-year Multi Axial Infused Materials (MAXIM) project has been backed by the UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and match-funded by the UK government’s
Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy. Many large aerospace composite parts are made from prepreg which requires convert-
321
TECHNOLOGY
US$1 million grant to research carbon fiber
TECHNOLOGY
The US University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) has received a US$1 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to continue its research in developing low-cost, high-strength carbon fiber. The center’s Carbon Materials Technologies Group received the award for a project entitled ‘Precursor Processing Development for Low Cost, High Strength Carbon Fiber for Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel Applications.’ The funding is part of DOE’s strategy to invest in materials for hydrogen storage and for fuel cells onboard light-duty vehicles. The team will investigate issues in precursor fiber development that can contribute to the cost of carbon fiber, namely high polymer cost, inefficient water use and solvent recovery, low fiber throughput, energy intensive conversion, and high coefficient of variation (CV). If successful, the
Matt Weisenberger, associate director of UK CAER's Carbon Materials Technologies Group, showcases the center's carbon fiber spinning capabilities.
project could lower the cost of high quality carbon fibers by over 50%, the researchers say. ‘We appreciate DOE’s confidence in our carbon fiber research and development efforts here at UK CAER,’ said Matt Weisenberger, associate director of the Carbon
Materials Technologies Group. ‘It is our hope that this project will show great promise for the future of carbon fiber for pressure vessels and many other commercial applications.’ University of Kentucky; www.uky.edu
Hexion launches adhesive for engineered wood lamination Hexion Inc has introduced a new twocomponent adhesive system for applications such as cross-laminated timbers for tall wood buildings and glue-laminated wood beams. The adhesive system includes the Ecobind 6500 resin and Wonderbond Hardener
M650Y which exceed all strength, exterior exposure and high-temperature requirements of the North American Structural Wood standards. ‘Hexion provides the enabling lamination technology for one of the most sustainable products on earth – engineered wood,’
said Scott McIntyre, North American business director for adhesives. ‘To ensure the lasting durability and performance of these sustainable engineered wood materials, we have had this new adhesive tested by multiple third party organizations.’ Hexion; www.hexion.com
of 85 psi (6 bar). If Autoclave curing is preferred the recommended cycle is a ramp up of 2–5 8F per minute to 300 8F (149 8C) with a minimum 85 psi (6 bar). Depending on the tooling design and material a dwell may be required. M77HF is suitable for processing parameters that require additional resin flow for surface quality, compaction or low voids.
According to Hexcel, the prepreg has good resin transparency, provides improved surface quality (without pinholes), and can be supplied with black pigmented resin. Typical applications include sports equipment, automotive parts and industrial components, such as prosthetics and braces.
Hexcel launches fast-curing prepreg Hexcel has developed HexPly M77HF epoxy prepreg which could reduce cure cycles by up to 90% compared to standard epoxy prepregs. It has a three-minute cure cycle using low pressure processing techniques such as cello-wrapping, simple presses, bladder molding and vacuum-only pressure. The typical cure cycle in a press is three minutes at 300 8F (149 8C) with a minimum
Hexcel; www.hexcel.com
Hexcel to create carbon fiber fabrics for aircraft parts Hexcel plans to launch a »7.4 million research and development project to develop carbon fiber materials for large aerospace and automotive composite structures.
The four-year Multi Axial Infused Materials (MAXIM) project has been backed by the UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and match-funded by the UK government’s
Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy. Many large aerospace composite parts are made from prepreg which requires convert-
321
TECHNOLOGY
US$1 million grant to research carbon fiber