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Hexcel to debut carbon fiber & aerospace prepreg at JEC

04 Mar '14

6 min read

The low tack of HexPly M77 enables theprepreg to be cut into precise shapes by laser cutter. The individual plies can then be oriented, assembled and consolidated into a flat preform by robot. Once in the mold HexPly M77 has an optimized gel time that allows the resin to flow into the contours to produce the precise geometries required. The high Tg of 125°C enables the cured parts can be demolded while hot for a faster production cycle.

This rapid-curing product, with a 6-week outlife at room temperature, is available in various forms including unidirectional or woven reinforcements and heavy tow fibers. It is also supplied as HexMC, Hexcel’s high performance carbon fiber/epoxy compound developed specifically for compression molding processes. HexMC is ideal for the series production of complex shaped parts with thickness variation, sharp angles or parts that require inserts to be integrated into the molding process such as screw threads.

HexPly M79 Low Temperature Cure Prepreg for wind blades and marine

HexPly M79 was developed to meet industry requirements for a faster and lower temperature curing prepreg for thick laminates. It has evolved from HexPly M10, Hexcel’s long-established and widely used prepreg resin for marine structures and wind blades. A number of cure cycle options are possible for HexPly M79 including a very low temperature cure of 8-10 hours at 70°C or a more rapid cure cycle of just 4-6 hours at 80°C. With previous systems it could take 10 hours to cure a laminate at 80°C. HexPly M79 also has a very long out life at room temperature of at least 6 weeks.

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.

On Hexcel’s stand at JEC visitors can see what we believe to be the thickest carbon prepreg laminate ever made. The lay-up of 695 plies of HexPly M79 600 gsm carbon UD tape with Hexcel’s grid technology is 400mm thick – and it cured in just 6 hours at 80°C. The very low exotherm of HexPly M79 allowed the temperature to be increased more quickly in the mold, resulting in a shorter cure cycle.

HiTape Aircraft Fuselage Panel Demonstrator

HiTape advanced dry carbon fiber reinforcements combine the benefits of automated processing with the cost-effectiveness of Out of Autoclave infusion technologies. HiTape allows preforms to be manufactured in a fully automated lay-up process, with high deposition rates.