Hexcel, a global leader in carbon fibre and composites innovation, is promoting its latest products and technologies for sports equipment at ISPO Munich 2014, taking place January 26th to 29th. Hexcel will show how innovations in resin matrix development and weaving technologies are transforming composite structures in sports equipment and other industrial markets.
HEXPLY® M77 and HEXMC® SNAP CURE SYSTEMS
HexPly® M77 is a rapid curing prepreg system that enables sports equipment to be press cured in just 2 minutes at 150°C. Available with a wide range of glass and carbon reinforcements, HexPly® M77 also offers the advantage of a very long shelf life of 6 weeks at room temperature.
This rapid-curing product is also available in the form of HexMC®, Hexcel’s patented high performance carbon fibre compound developed specifically for compression moulding processes that are compatible with large volume automated production.
A number of leading ski manufacturers are already using HexPly® M77 for the fast and efficient production of high quality products. In addition to the rapid cure cycle, the system provides excellent adhesion to metal, wood, foam and other ski core materials.
PRIMETEX® VERY LIGHT WEIGHT GAP-FREE FABRICS
PrimeTex® is Hexcel’s innovative weaving technology with fibres spread in both the warp and weft direction to provide a highly uniform weave and gap-free finish. The PrimeTex® spreading process increases the closure factor by 5-8% compared to conventional weaving processes (depending on the carbon tow and FAW).
Low weight PrimeTex® can lower the mass in a composite structure, resulting in even greater weight savings than with standard composite reinforcements.
In a further development, Hexcel has now launched the lightest 3K gap–free carbon fabric ever produced: PrimeTex® Very Light Weight 98 g/m². This new range of 3K carbon fabrics breaks through the conventional limits for Fibre Areal Weight and opens the door to the cost-effective use of very light plies in composite lay-ups. PrimeTex® VLW is also 12% thinner than conventional 1K carbon fabrics, resulting in lighter structures and making it the perfect candidate for surface plies, sandwich constructions, structural parts or any other composite components requiring extreme lightness.
MODIPUR® POLYURETHANE SYSTEMS
Hexcel is also promoting its Modipur® Polyurethane systems at the show. Polyurethane is used as a core material in over 60% of the skis and snowboards being manufactured today and Hexcel products are used more widely than any others. Hexcel provides strong support to customers based on many years’ experience and know-how, helping them to adapt their process to incorporate polyurethanes.