The demonstrator project was carried out as part of the collaborative project known as HAICoPAS. The primary goal of HAICoPAS is to optimize the design and production process for unidirectional composite tapes made from high-performance thermoplastic resins and continuous carbon fibers. Additionally, the project aims to develop a more efficient tape placement technology and a novel continuous and dynamic in-situ welding (ISW) assembly system with real-time quality control. Ultimately, the objective is to produce composite parts that can replace metallic materials (such as steel, aluminum, and titanium) in aircraft structures, achieving both cost competitiveness and high production rates.

The work of the project partners has successfully overcome the technological barriers identified at the beginning of the project, including:

1. The development, implementation, and characterization of carbon/thermoplastic (C/PEKK) tapes.
2. The creation of an automated deposition process for consolidation outside of autoclaves.
3. The establishment of the ISW welding technology for assembly.

The definition of elementary parts intended to form the assembled components of the HAICoPAS demonstrator was carried out in close collaboration with an industrial advisory committee comprising Airbus, Safran, Daher, Hutchinson, and ATC. The final version of the aeronautical demonstrator, made from composite tapes and assembled using ISW technology, is currently on display at the JEC World Innovation Planets exhibition in the Mobility section.

This innovative demonstrator was successfully developed within the framework of the collaborative project “HAICoPAS” (Highly Automatized Integrated Composites for Performing Adaptable Structures). The HAICoPAS project is a collaborative initiative led by Hexcel and Arkema, along with their industrial partners (Ingecal, Coriolis Composites, Pinette Emidecau Industries (PEI), and Institut de Soudure). Additionally, a consortium of university laboratories, spearheaded by CNRS and comprising the PIMM (CNRS – Arts et Métiers ParisTech – Cnam) and LTEN (CNRS – Université de Nantes), played a crucial role in this endeavor. The Structuring R&D Project for Competitiveness (PSPC) received support from Bpifrance as part of the Investment for the Future Program and was endorsed by the Polymeris competitiveness cluster.

Posted: March 11, 2024

Source: Hexcel Corporation

• BIO|Power yarns blend multiple natural fibers to create a range of performance and cost characteristics for sustainable composites. The first BIO|Power EX blend is expected to reduce fiber costs up to 40 percent and greenhouse emissions up to 95 percent versus carbon fiber.
• COR|Power is a damping filament which helps reduce the effects of vibration and harshness in carbon fiber composites by up to 30 percent when incorporated at 10 percent by weight.

SCALE is working initially with bicycle manufacturers to address industry challenges, including the trade-off between stiffness and comfort which has been exacerbated by the focus on aerodynamics in modern bicycle design, as well as improving product margins which particularly benefits manufacturers producing in Europe and North America.

SCALE’s materials can provide significant benefits to manufacturers and cyclists alike, improving stiffness-to-weight performance, impact resistance, and vibration damping for a smoother ride.

“The cycling market is a perfect test bed for us. Cyclists are sophisticated customers with an unwavering demand for performance,” said Lance Johnson, CEO, SCALE. “The damping properties of our materials, coupled with the ability to enhance stiffness without adding weight by using BIO|Power in narrower tube profiles, improve product performance while reducing environmental impact.”

“We’re working with SCALE as part of a long-term project to improve sustainability in bikes,” said Martin Meir, managing director, REAP Design in the United Kingdom. “In early testing, we’ve combined BIO|Power and COR|Power to reduce carbon fibre content by 20%, increasing frame stiffness by more than 5% without weight penalties. Additionally, we expect better compliance in the frame and lower transmission of road vibration which will reduce rider fatigue.”

“Collaborating with SCALE gives us the opportunity to use more sustainable materials in 3T’s proprietary production processes,” said Enrique Romero Pineda, managing engineer, 3T Cycling. “We’ve tested BIO|Power in our 3T RaceMax Italia layup, enhancing stiffness-to-weight of the bottom bracket by 5 percent. We’re looking at how BIO|Power can reduce the quantity of material we use while preserving our current stiffness-to-weight, to have an even greater impact on our greenhouse emissions.”

Visit SCALE at JEC, Hall 6, Stand G01 in the Start-up Village.

Posted: March 7, 2024

Source: SCALE

HexTow IM9 24K is an intermediate modulus (IM) fiber of 24,000 filaments with an average tow tensile strength over 6,300 megapascals (MPa), a modulus of 298 gigapascals (GPa) and strain of 1.9%. This new product provides a 12% improvement in tensile strength over the Hexcel baseline IM7 fiber, which is a major component in commercial aircraft engine fan blades and other aerospace applications.

“Hexcel developed HexTow IM9 24K to be a workhorse fiber that builds on the company’s proven legacy of intermediate modulus fibers,” said Imad Atallah, vice president, Product Management, Composite Materials. “We are excited to offer our customers a dependable carbon fiber solution for high-rate manufacturing and high-performance material designs.”

The HexTow® IM9 24K provides an alternative solution for customers seeking affordable, high-value composites,  and is particularly suited for manufacturing primary and secondary aerospace vehicle structures. The combination of the fiber’s high performance and translation into composite tensile strength, as well as the increased fiber line throughput and productivity provided by a 24K tow size, provides a strong value proposition when compared to other commercially available IM fibers.

With the launch of the new HexTow IM9 24K carbon fiber, Hexcel anticipates qualifying the product with highly-toughened epoxies, thermosetting bismaleimide (BMI), out of autoclave (OOA) and other high performance resin systems. Composite data is currently being generated in a variety of resin systems and will be made available to customers.

Posted: March 5, 2024

Source: Hexcel Corporation

In BRM’s film infusion process, a frozen sheet or film of resin is infused onto the custom 3D woven joint. Film-infused 3D woven joints ship as premade assemblies, ensuring consistent quality control from the industry-leading experts in fabrication and saving customers the cost of infusing the resin themselves. BRM has perfected the science and art of 3-D continuous weaving to fabricate such structures as “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex shapes. Offering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, these complex woven structures are used primarily in aerospace applications, often in airframe structural components and subassemblies including stiffeners and joints.

Those who visit the booth will see lightweight materials like 3-D woven fabrics and learn about our multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPS) for atmospheric re-entry. BRM has implemented innovative weaving technologies to develop complex webbing for aerospace products. The woven TPS billet to be showcased at the booth is part of a line of products that was selected as the critical component of the heat shield on the Orion Crew Capsule, which helps protect against the extreme temperatures of atmospheric re-entry.

In partnership with NASA, BRM developed the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads. The 3DMAT Quartz Material was recently named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.

Also on display are lightweight, cost-effective, advanced woven 2-D and 3-D composite structures. Using a multi-dimensional continuous weaving method, BRM produces textiles that can be fabricated into near net-shape structures. These advanced weaving capabilities offer customers new solutions that reduce weight and cost. The technology weaves complex shapes automatically, eliminating many costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive processes.

Posted: March 5, 2024

Source: Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM

PI ADVANCED MATERIALS SHOWCASES FOR THE 1ST TIME WITH ARKEMA
After Arkema acquired a majority stake in PI Advanced Materials in South Korea, the two companies will be showcasing polyimide films that are able to withstand extreme temperatures while preserving dimensional stability, offering excellent electrical properties and flexibility.

PI Advanced Materials is a prominent supplier of various types of polyimide films for diverse applications, particularly those suitable for the consolidation or curing of high-temperature thermoset and thermoplastic composites, spanning a wide range of thicknesses.

PI films are used in various industries, including smart devices, electric vehicles, semiconductors, displays, aerospace, and industrial applications.

SMART ADHESIVES – Bostik will reveal its adhesive solutions to bond and repair composite parts, with a focus on its structural adhesives MMA SAF&FIT and Pliogrip range of 2Kpolyurethane and epoxy structural adhesives, Born2Bond Instant Adhesives, and SMP sealants. Bostik will also present its low-profile additives (LPA) to improve the intrinsic properties of composite materials, such as their chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance in Sheet Molding and Bulk Molding Compound (SMC, BMC).

UNLEASHING THE FUTURE WITH ARKEMA’S UDX® TAPES – Arkema is proud to present a range of semi-finished composite products under the UDX® brand. These products take the form of unidirectional carbon fiber tapes, each impregnated with high-performance thermoplastic polymers.

Major on-going developments with UDX tapes are high pressures vessels for hydrogen and high-performance sports equipment’s.

BEYOND UDX TAPES: FABRICS AND CHIPS – We also offer other semi-finished products based on UDX tapes, such as fabrics and chips, for specific applications. Additionally, scraps from traditional UD tape processing can be chipped and recycled for other highly demanding applications.

REINFORCE SYSTEM TOUGHNESS – New Clearstrength® MBS core-shell toughening agents offer extensive formulation versatility. Clearstrength® E980 has improved dispersion properties while high-performance Clearstrength® XT152 is designed for lower polarity (meth)acrylic monomers and hydrophobic resins.

LOWER VOCS – Sartomer® reactive diluents, crosslinkers and binders reduce VOCs and improve mechanical properties in thermoset, thermoplastic and bio composites. The offering includes bio-based options with more than 25% bio-content.

THE INTELLIGENT COMPOSITES OF TOMORROW – Compared to standard piezoelectric ceramics, sensors based on Piezotech® can be mounted on curved surfaces because they are flexible. Also, due to their polymeric nature, they can be integrated into the core of composite like tanks and can be printed on large surfaces. The absence of toxic and non-recyclable heavy metals, their light weight and low energy consumption make them the materials of choice.

PARTNERSHIP – Arkema is partnering with WW technologies, a technology licensing company, and MultiMaterial-Welding, licensor of Woodwelding® technology, to provide an innovative fixation technique based on Rilsan® Polyamide 11. WW technologies offers efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable fixation solutions using ultrasonic energy to create bonds in porous materials such as sandwich panels, non-compatible polymers or foams.  MultiMaterial-Welding is an expert in fastener technology logistics. Rilsan® Polyamide 11, which is 100% bio-based, is being offered as the next generation fastening technology due to its exceptional mechanical properties, versatility in various designs and substrates, and excellent applicative performance.

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and sustainable materials. With the ambition to become in 2024 a pure player in Specialty Materials, the Group is structured into 3 complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials – Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions – accounting for some 91% of Group sales in 2022, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of around € 11.5 billion in 2022, and operates in some 55 countries with 21,100 employees worldwide.

Posted: March 2, 2024

Source: ARKEMA

At this year’s industry trade fair to be held March 5-7, the company will be exhibiting with KARL MAYER Technical Textiles and its STOLL Business Unit in Hall 5 at Stand K 32 in the Parc des Expositions in Paris Nord Villepinte.

One focus of the exhibition will be non-crimp fabrics and tapes made from bio-based yarn materials for the reinforcement of composites. Last year, KARL MAYER Technical Textiles had already shown exhibits in this area and hit a nerve: Under pressure from the looming climate crisis and rising energy prices, the composites industry is constantly looking for sustainable solutions. “While our business with multiaxial and spreading technology for processing conventional technical fibres such as carbon or glass continues to do well, we are seeing increasing interest in the processing of natural fibers into composites. That’s why we have a new product in our trade fair luggage for the upcoming JEC World: an alpine ski in which, among other things, hemp fibre fabrics have been used,” reveals Hagen Lotzmann, vice president Sales KARL MAYER Technische Textilien.

The winter sports equipment is the result of a subsidized project. The hemp tapes for this were supplied by FUSE GmbH and processed into non-crimp fabrics on the COP MAX 5 multiaxial warp knitting machine in the KARL MAYER Technical Textiles technical center.

With the capacities in the company’s own application technology center and the expertise of its composite specialists, the company is able to support its customers in the implementation of projects and processing trials. The aim of the trade fair is to strengthen the company’s image as a contact point for innovators also with unusual ideas. “Everyone is currently looking for new applications. We want to present ourselves as a competent development partner and special machine manufacturer in the composites sector,” says Hagen Lotzmann. The sales professional and his team will also be presenting an innovation from the multiaxial machine sector for the production of composites made of glass rovings.

The STOLL Business Unit will be focusing on thermoplastic materials. Several knit to shape parts with a visually appealing textile outer surface and a hardened inner surface will be on display. The double-face products can be made from different types of yarn and do not need to be back-moulded for use as side door panels or housing shells, for example. In addition, the ready-to-use design saves on waste and yarn material.

The KARL MAYER Group is looking forward to its guests, numerous discussions and many new ideas.

Posted: February 26, 2024

Source: The KARL MAYER GROUP

Broadening Avient’s portfolio of protective materials, Polystrand ThermoBallistic ballistic-resistant composite panels are compression molded panels made with e-glass and thermoplastic resin systems that offer a cost-competitive alternative to ballistic-resistant materials made with other fibers or thermoset resins. ThermoBallistic panels provide structural bullet-resistant reinforcement to meet UL 752 Level 3 ballistic rating for interior and exterior architectural surfaces and components at a lighter weight than traditional panel materials.

Avient will also highlight its complete portfolio of advanced composite materials and engineered fiber solutions that offer high strength, weight reduction, and corrosion resistance for products across a broad range of industries and markets, including:

Thermoplastic Composites:

• Polystrand continuous fiber reinforced unidirectional tapes and multi-axial laminates, including recycled content formulations
• Hammerhead Marine Composite Panels – structural solutions to replace wood and other materials in boat-building applications
• Polystrand structural sandwich panels

Thermoset Composites:

• Gordon Composites continuous glass and carbon fiber bar stock, laminates, and composite springs, including springs for high-temperature industrial applications
• Gordon Glass archery bow limbsGlasforms pultruded rods, tubes, and custom profiles
• GlasArmor ballistic-resistant panels

Engineered Fiber Solutions:

• Fiber-Line engineered high-performance fibers, including coated, twisted, and custom-wound aramid, glass, carbon, HMPE, and LCP fibers
• Fiber-Line fiber-reinforced thermoplastic unidirectional tapes, pultruded rods, and custom extrusion-coated rods and fibers

Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber

• Dyneema unidirectional (UD) material is a composite laminate that offers excellent energy absorption and enhanced protection in a lightweight solution
• The strength and versatility of Dyneema make it ideal for a wide range of ballistic armor solutions for personal and vehicle protection

Avient is committed to helping customers meet sustainability goals in various ways through its composites portfolio. Composites are inherently lightweight alternatives to metal and other materials, enabling sustainability initiatives such as material reduction and fuel economy improvements in many end products. Thermoplastic recycled-content composites can further support a circular economy and help customers lessen their environmental impact.

Avient is exhibiting at JEC World March 5-7, 2024, in Hall 5, Booth F49, at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Park.

Posted: February 26, 2024

Source: Avient Corporation

Hydrosize plays a crucial role for fiber producers and composite manufacturers by improving the bond between fibers and polymers. Using Hydrosize, a manufacturer can tailor the surface chemistry of reinforcement fibers to the chemistry of the matrix resin, thus creating composites that are not only stronger and lighter but also more durable.

Hydrosize solutions are used in the manufacturing of glass, carbon, and natural fibers, including chopped and continuous formats. They are used as lubricants, film formers, sizing agents, and binders during fiber manufacturing and composite processing.

Michelman’s Global Marketing Director, Steve Bassetti, stated, “Hydrosize plays a pivotal role in enhancing fiber processability. Despite its minor weight contribution to fiber-reinforced composites — typically between 0.5 and 5 percent — its influence on both the production of fibers and their processing is profound, significantly affecting how the fiber surface interacts with the composite matrix. Essentially acting as the ‘glue’ in this interaction, sizing is critical when introducing sized fiber into the resin matrix. Our strategy involves a chemistry-agnostic stance, allowing us to tackle interface adhesion challenges by devising tailored solutions that cater to the vast array of polymer types, fibers, fillers, and the various composite manufacturing methods.”

Michelman is also excited to present its line of Hydrosize Carbon solutions aimed at maximizing the advantages of carbon fiber. These solutions enable the production of superior quality composite parts by leveraging carbon fiber’s distinctive properties to meet lightweighting objectives while maintaining design flexibility and part consolidation.

Select Hydrosize Carbon grades provide excellent thermal stability and are designed to withstand elevated processing and subsequent applications. Furthermore, the various grades offer customers a wide variety of solutions depending on resin compatibility, fiber type, and desired composite performance.

Unyte water-based emulsions, another highlight from Michelman, offer a range of water-based technologies tailored for technical textiles and pre-preg fabrics. These solutions enhance various attributes, including adhesion, chemical and heat resistance, and water repellency. Particularly focused on reducing environmental impact, Unyte® formulations are developed to meet specific client needs while avoiding Substances of Concern (SoCs) like formaldehyde and PFAS, aligning with Michelman’s commitment to sustainability.

Steve Bassetti further remarked: “Our Unyte line includes a variety of formulations, each adaptable to specific needs. We frequently collaborate with manufacturers of technical textiles seeking to remove Substances of Concern (SoCs), aiming to do so without compromising performance or processability. We ensure these formulations meet our customers’ precise objectives by performing rigorous testing and customization with different raw materials. Committed to our mission of Innovating a Sustainable Future, we are proud to support customers in phasing out these substances, contributing positively to reducing environmental impact.”

Michelman invites attendees to explore these innovative solutions and learn how they are driving the future of composites and technical textiles toward enhanced performance and reduced environmental impact. Join them at JEC World 2024 to discover how Michelman’s products can benefit your manufacturing processes and products.

JEC World 2024 takes place March 5-7 at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre. Michelman will exhibit in Hall 5, Booth C40.

Posted: February 26, 2024

Source: Michelman

Green Snowboard

At JEC World in Paris from 5 to 7 March 2024, STFI will be showcasing a snowboard from silbaerg GmbH with a patented anisotropic coupling effect made from hemp and recycled carbon fibers with bio-based epoxy resin. In addition to silbaerg and STFI, the partners Circular Saxony – the innovation cluster for the circular economy, FUSE Composite and bto-epoxy GmbH were also involved in the development of the board. The green snowboard was honored with the JEC Innovation Award 2024 in the “Sport, Leisure and Recreation” category.

VliesComp

The aim of the industrial partners Tenowo GmbH (Hof), Siemens AG (Erlangen), Invent GmbH (Braun- schweig) and STFI united in the VliesComp project is to bring recycled materials back onto the market in various lightweight construction solutions. The application fields “Innovative e-machine concepts for the energy transition” and “Innovative e-machine concepts for e-mobility” were considered as examples. On display at JEC World in Paris will be a lightweight end shield for electric motors made from hybrid nonwovens — a mixture of thermoplastic fiber components and recycled reinforcing fibers — as well as nonwovens with 100-percent recycled reinforcing fibers. The end shield was ultimately manufactured with a 100-percent recycled fiber content. The tests showed that, compared to the variant made from primary carbon fibers using the RTM process, a 14-percent reduction in CO2 equivalent is possible with the same performance. The calculation for the use of the prepreg process using a bio-resin system shows a potential for reducing the CO2 equivalent by almost 70 percent.

Bast fibre reinforcement

To increase stability in the plant stem, bast fibres form in the bark area, which support the stem but, in contrast to the rigid wood, are very flexible and allow slender, tall plants to move in the wind without breaking.A new process extracts the bast bark from hemp by peeling.The resulting characteristic values, such as tensile modulus of elasticity, breaking strength and elongation, are very promising in comparison with the continuous rovings made of flax available on the market.The material could be used as rein- forcement in lightweight construction. At JEC World, STFI will be exhibiting reinforcing bars that have been processed into a knitted fabric using a pultrusion process based on bio-based reinforcing fibres made from hemp bast for mineral matrices..

Posted: February 22, 2024

Source: Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI)

For the Aerospace sector, Hexcel will launch a new HexTow® continuous carbon fiber – IM9 24K – providing an alternative solution for manufacturers seeking to maximize efficiency in primary and secondary aerospace vehicle structures. HexTow® IM9 24K provides high fiber performance, translating into increased composite tensile strength, as well as the increased fiber line throughput and productivity provided by a 24K tow size. HexTow® IM9 24K delivers a strong value proposition when compared to other commercially available IM fibers.

Hexcel will also present its new, rapid-curing prepreg. Developed for the high-rate production of structural composite parts, HexPly® M51 is designed for rapid hot-in/hot-out press curing. It has a 40-minute cure cycle at 180˚C, reducing production times and costs versus standard autoclave-cured prepregs. Using HexPly M51 also reduces the need for multiple sets of tooling and labor compared with conventional prepreg systems. The prepreg is fully compatible with automated tape laying (ATL), automated fiber placement (AFP) and pick-and-place processes. It also is REACH-compliant, demonstrating a mechanical performance equivalent to other state-of-the-art 180°C cure prepregs.

Aerospace parts displayed at JEC World 2024 include a new HAICoPAS aerospace demonstrator panel manufactured using new thermoplastic and carbon fiber materials that target the low-cost assembly of structural aerospace parts. This project has involved Hexcel, Arkema, Ingecal, Coriolis Composites, Pinete Emidecau Industries, Institut de Soudure and CNRS laboratories (PIMM, LTEN). Lightweight structural UD PEKK/carbon thermoplastic composite parts were produced out of autoclave/in situ and then assembled using innovative welding technology which can then be used to replace metal parts at a higher production rate. The demonstrator panel – made in collaboration with an industrial committee including Airbus, Safran, Daher, Hutchinson and ATC – will be on display at the JEC Mobility Pavilion.

In addition, Hexcel will showcase aerospace components manufactured with the latest generation of HexPly, HiTape® and RTM solutions including composite engine pylon covers, a liquid hydrogen tank demonstrator and a low-noise Airbus H160 helicopter rotor blade developed using a range of Hexcel reinforcements, prepregs, adhesives and honeycomb materials.

Hexcel will highlight solutions for Marine customers and will exhibit a scale model of a 220-meter-long sail-powered cruising yacht to be created by Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CDA) for customer Accor. The masts used by the new ship for wind propulsion are manufactured using Bureau Veritas (BV) approved HexPly M9.6 prepregs, reduce reliance on engines and cut fuel usage. CDA and its consortium won a 2023 JEC Innovation Award for their work on this project.

HexPly M9.6 prepregs are also used to produce lightweight carbon fiber hydrofoil components, and Hexcel will display an AFS brand foil made by French company Foil and Co. Experts in the design and manufacture of composite products, AFS has chosen to offer 100% carbon foils that are designed and manufactured entirely in France.

As part of its portfolio of composite solutions for the Automotive industry, Hexcel will present its prepreg and dry fabric material technologies as well as components including a sportscar wheel made in a fully industrialized high-volume production process.

In addition, Hexcel continues to develop its offering for future Energy Generation applications and will showcase its latest carbon fiber and towpreg materials that enable a transition to lower environmental impact transport and electric engines. Hexcel hot melt towpreg materials take a first step in reducing environmental footprint, focusing on performance optimization and overall reduction in composite material usage.

For Sustainable Solutions, Hexcel will feature a dedicated zone at its booth. On display will be Elan and Blizzard skis commercialized with HexPly® Nature Range prepregs. Hexcel now offers its iconic industrial resins with a bio-derived resin content, including M49 for cosmetic applications, M79 for thick structures or low-temperature cure, and M78.1 LT for fast cure. These resins offer the flexibility to be paired with natural fiber and recycled carbon fiber reinforcements.

Hexcel will also highlight a novel project that aims to improve accessibility to sport, mobility and autonomy for people with disabilities by featuring the Hopper® prosthetic running blade made of discarded aerospace carbon materials. The Hopper project uses recycled Hexcel carbon fiber prepreg from Airbus facilities. Project partners Airbus, Salomon and the 3Dx lab of Dassault Systèmes worked together with Hopper to manufacture the affordable and accessible carbon fiber running blade. The Hopper blade is easy to use, enabling sports and outdoor activities again thanks to its flexible and versatile composite design.

There will also be a collection of parts donated by Fairmat that demonstrate its 2024 JEC Innovation Award nominated Closed Loop Ecosystem for Carbon Fiber. Fairmat’s AI-driven, software-centric technology uses robots to create 100% recycled CFRP chips using Hexcel prepreg waste. A versatile solution for diverse product applications, these innovative chips offer low weight, strength and stiffness benefits, filling the gap in the advanced materials industry and ensuring valuable carbon fiber doesn’t go to waste. Hexcel is proud to support Fairmat and its recycling program, with almost all its European-produced carbon fiber prepreg cutoffs avoiding landfill and being processed for reuse into commercial markets. The partnership led to more than 170 tons of prepreg material being diverted from waste to fulfilling commercial product needs in 2023.

“We are delighted to be at JEC World 2024, presenting our latest innovations and celebrating the success our customers have with Hexcel materials,” said Thierry Merlot, Hexcel President – Aerospace for Europe, MEA/AP & Industrial. “JEC provides an unparalleled platform for us to engage with industry leaders, foster strategic partnerships, and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to shaping the future of lightweight, composite material development in this dynamic and ever-evolving global marketplace.”

Posted: February 20, 2024

Source: Hexcel Corporation