A composite material’s key components are fibers and a resin. The fibers, typically made of glass or carbon fiber, provide strength and stiffness, but if used alone, cannot be made into a shape or form where these properties are applicable. Impregnating the fibers with resin followed by curing, however, allows us to engineer their strength, stiffness and light weight for a variety of applications, while adding even more benefits to the composite.
MFFD thermoplastic floor beams — OOA consolidation for next-gen TPC aerostructures
GKN Fokker and Mikrosam develop AFP for the Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator’s floor beams and OOA consolidation of 6-meter spars for TPC rudders, elevators and tails.
Resins: Essential Reading
Optimizing a thermoplastic composite helicopter door hinge
9T Labs used Additive Fusion Technology to iterate CFRTP designs, fully exploit continuous fiber printing and outperform stainless steel and black metal designs in failure load and weight.
Inside Teijin’s thermoplastic tape expansion
Teijin is qualifying its second thermoplastic tape line in Heinsberg, Germany, that will significantly expand the company’s presence in this material segment.
Thermoset-thermoplastic joining, natural fibers enable sustainability-focused brake cover
Award-winning motorcycle brake disc cover showcases potential for KTM Technologies’ Conexus joining technology and flax fiber composites.
Digital Demo: The Advantages of Thermoplastics Technology
From stronger, longer-lasting parts to creating sustainable options for composite parts, this demo will pique your interest in this emerging technology. (Sponsored)
CDZ Compositi introduces patented 3D Flex Composite
Specialist in structural and aesthetic prepreg press parts enhances 3D shaping and flexibility in composite parts using carbon and other reinforcement fibers.
FAQ: Resins
What is a resin?
A solid or pseudo-solid organic material, generally of a high molecular weight. In fiber reinforced plastics, it is the resin that binds the fibers.
Source: Essentials of Advanced Composite Fabrication & Repair - Second Edition
What are the major groups of resins?
Thermoplastic and Thermoset resins.
What is a thermoplastic resin?
Polymers or copolymers that essentiall have no cross-links and can be melted or reshaped when heated to melt point or above the Tg.
Source: Essentials of Advanced Composite Fabrication & Repair - Second Edition
What is a thermoset resin?
A plastic that cures by the application of heat or by chemical reaction resulting in a cross-linked insoluble molecule; considered an irreversible process.
Source: Essentials of Advanced Composite Fabrication & Repair - Second Edition
