CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/546021
CompositesWorld.com 59 » PREIMPREGNATED REINFORCEMENTS Ultralight/ultrathin uni carbon fiber prepreg tapes North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT, Penthalaz-Cossonay, Switzerland) has developed a unidirectional prepreg tape with an areal weight of only 15 g/ m 2 , producing what the company believes is possibly the thinnest prepreg tape on the market. NTPT achieved this outcome by spreading an interme- diate-modulus carbon fber and adding the high T g epoxy resin ThinPreg 120EPHT g – 402. The resulting prepreg can be used to create lightweight sandwich panels for use in ultralight aircraft, UAVs and other aerospace applications as well as the rigid wingsails now used in racing yachts. www.thinplytechnology.com » METER/MIX/DISPENSE EQUIPMENT Gel coat proportioner Graco (North Canton, OH, US) has introduced the Graco RS, a new fexible and precise gel coat system for molded composite components, designed specifcally for use in automotive composites applications. Graco's gel coat system proportioner ofers on-ratio dispensing, while the company's RS gel coat gun ofers both superior spray performance and ease of maintenance. The Graco RS gel coat gun is up to 44% lighter than competing gun technologies, leading to better handling and spraying control for operators. The gun also delivers what Graco says is a superior spray pattern, due to its Air Assist Containment (AAC) technology. The AAC technology wraps the spray in a containing shield of air, preventing atomized droplets from escaping the intended spray pattern. The resulting decrease in overspray, says Graco, reduces material waste and creates a healthier environment for operators. Additionally, the gun's quick-disconnect front end reduces maintenance, while the system's needle clamp design is said to prevent operators from having to adjust needle settings after routine maintenance. www.graco.com/us/en.html » PREIMPREGNATED REINFORCEMENTS Flax-fiber prepregs for aircraft interiors At the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, France, Lineo NV (St.-Martin du Tilleul, France) recently displayed its fax-based epoxy prepregs for aircraft interiors, called FlaxTape, which reportedly are 35% lighter than carbon fber/epoxy prepreg tapes. Flax fber, according to Lineo, has the same mechanical properties as glass fber and also demonstrates useful damping properties. Lineo also ofered a sandwich product, called Simbaa, as an alternative to traditional sandwich constructions. The company is reportedly ramping up production of FlaxTape for the auto- motive industry as well. www.lineo.eu Product Showcase