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4 0 C O M P O S I T E S W O R L D . C O M New Products Products NEW Carbon fber/epoxy prepreg for autocomposites Aerospace prepreg and fber supplier Hexcel (Stamford, Conn.) introduced prepregs designed specifcally for automotive applications. Topping the list was HexPly M77, a rapid-curing carbon fber/epoxy prepreg from which au- tomotive components and sporting goods reportedly can be press-cured in a two-minute cycle at 150°C/302°F (80 bar/1,060 psi pressure). The prepreg's low tack allows the prepreg to be cut easily by laser cutter. Once in the mold, HexPly M77's "optimized" gel time allows the resin to fow into contours to produce the geometries required. A T g of 125°C/257°F enables cured parts to be demolded while hot, to speed cycles. HexPly M77 also is supplied as HexMC compound developed specifcally for compression molding processes. Also new is HexPly M79 low-temperature-cure prepreg for wind blades and marine applications. Cure cycle options include an 8 to 10 hour cycle at 70°C/158°F, or a more rapid cycle (4 to 6 hours) at 80°C/176°F. HexPly M79 has an outlife at room temperature of six weeks. www.hexcel.com Styrene-free vinyl-less-the-ester Reichhold Inc. (Research Triangle Park, N.C.) unveiled ADVALITE. Techni- cally a vinyl "hybrid," it offers no-VOC performance without the use of reac- tive diluents, which effectively eliminates the "ester" label. ADVALITE vinyl hybrid liquid and ADVALITE vinyl hybrid hot-melt prepreg resins report- edly exhibit good mechanical properties and temperature resistance up to 200ºC/392°F. The resin is cured using standard free-radical inhibitors and initiators. This is said to allow signifcant processing advantages when com- pared to epoxy resins. The resins' low exotherm allows for rapid curing of thick laminates without cracking. ADVALITE liquid resins can be used in resin transfer molding (RTM), infusion, flament winding, liquid molding and pultrusion processes. The ADVALITE hot-melt prepreg resins can be directly coated or adhesive flmed for fber impregnation. Reichhold says the materi- als have 3.5 to 4 percent elongation on some parts. www.reichhold.com Noncontact optical encoders Renishaw (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) debuted ATOM, a noncontact optical lin- ear and rotary incremental encoder system. With a readhead as small as 6.7 by 12.7 by 20.5 mm (0.26 by 0.5 by 0.8 inch), ATOM is said by Renishaw to be the world's frst miniature encoder to use fltering optics with auto gain control (AGC) and auto offset control (AOC) for enhanced signal stabil- ity and dirt immunity. Applications include laser scanning, precision micro- stages and space-critical motion control (cutting tables, machining fxtures), inspection and metrology. ATOM features a low Sub-Divisional Error (SDE), low jitter, analog speeds to 20 m/sec and digital resolutions to 1 nm when used with Renishaw interpolation electronics. www.renishaw.com Introduced at JEC Europe 2014 Rapid-cure epoxies and polyurethanes Although the big news at Dow (Schwalbach, Germany and Midland, Mich.) was Dow Auto- motive's new, trademarked VORAFORCE 5300 epoxy family (see "2014 JEC Europe Review," p. 18), the company also premiered its VORAFORCE 5200 series, which offers low viscosity, high fow and fber wetting and rapid cure (4 and 18+ min- utes coupled with a long possible injection time at very low viscosities) for large glass, carbon or aramid fber-reinforced composite parts that re- quire rapid injection times. Also new, the VORA- FORCE 5100 series delivers even faster produc- tion (cure in less than three minutes), with similar processing, capability, strength and quality. It's suitable for resin transfer molding (RTM) of automotive and commercial transportation components. Also new was the VORAFORCE TW 1100 polyurethane series, which reportedly en- ables full 110-kV composites pole winding capabilities and, thus, complements Dow's available range of polyurethane systems for smaller poles (e.g., 10 kV). In this applica- tion (see photo), it helps improve elongation, toughness, and crack resistance as compared to conventional materials and other types of resins. Advantages are said to include a fast reaction profle and workability in secondary cutting and drilling. www.dow.com Composites cost-estimating software Galorath (El Segundo, Calif.) announced that its SEER for Manufactur- ing cost-estimating software is now available as an integrated module of Dassault Systèmes' (Waltham, Mass.) CATIA V5 design software. This will allow manufacturers to use SEER's Ply Cost Estimator in CATIA and let fabricators model and test composites manufacturing processes and evalu- ate tradeoffs during the earliest stages of product design. SEER features composite part cost estimates for labor (setup, direct, inspection, rework), material and tooling. Estimates are updated and refreshed as the design evolves, and the user can save multiple scenarios for each part to compare and trade options — a feature that helps designer's understand the cost of design decisions. Part cost estimates include ply placement, debulking, core prep and machining, panel layup, hot press forming, curing (autoclave, RTM or VARTM), postcure trim, nondestructive inspection, tool prep, cleaning and tool design and fabrication. www.galorath.com; www.3ds.com 0614CT New Products-OK.indd 40 5/20/2014 8:55:40 AM