Hexcel to focus on automotive, wind energy and recreation at Composites Europe 2015
At Composites Europe 2015, US-based Hexcel Corporation will present its composite materials for the automotive, wind energy and recreation markets.
For the automotive industry, Hexcel's fast curing prepreg HexPly M77 meets the needs for volume production with a two-minute press-cure cycle at 150°C (80 bar pressure).
The system is optimized for automated processing, with low tack enabling precise shapes to be cut by laser and allowing individual plies to be oriented, assembled and consolidated into a flat preform by robot, introduced the company.
While curing in the mold the optimized gel time of HexPly M77 enables the resin to flow into the contours to achieve the precise geometries required for the finished part. The high Tg of 125°C allows cured parts to be demolded while hot for a quick turnaround and faster production cycles.
Hexcel will display a number of automotive parts including carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) reinforced BIW parts manufactured from HexPly M77 using Hexcel's fully automated 2D preform production line. There will also be a demonstrator panel manufactured by Plastic Omnium using HexPly M77 demonstrating the 40% weight reduction achievable in trunk floors using this technology.
For wind energy, Hexcel has added HexPly M79 to its prepreg range, providing a product that cures more quickly at low temperatures, with low exothermic reaction to meet the requirements for thick laminates such as wind blades and yacht masts.
Where previous systems for thick laminates required a 10 hour cure at 80°C, HexPly M79 cures in 8-10 hours at 70°C or just 4-6 hours at 80°C and the system has a long six week outlife at room temperature.
When HexPly M79 carbon fiber UD prepreg is used in conjunction with Hexcel's patented grid technology a void content in the cured laminate of less than 1% is achievable, regardless of the part thickness.
For the recreation market, Hexcel will show the Corima UP "S" carbon bike wheel that is used in competition triathlons, time trials and flat stages. The highly aerodynamic 73mm wheel has strong stiffness and is lightweight due to the use of Hexcel's HexPly carbon fiber prepregs and PrimeTex lightweight gap-free fabrics.
Also on display will be an ice hockey stick manufactured by Fischer using Hexcel's HexPly carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg and Primetex gap-free reinforcements for a high performance, lightweight hockey stick with great visual appeal.
Composites Europe 2015 will take place in Stuttgart, Germany from September 22-24.
