The JEC Europe 2012 composites trade show will be held March 27-29 in Paris. this is the composites industry’s largest trade show and typically features introduction of a variety of new products and technologies. following is a preview of JEC product announcements CompositesWorld has received.
3A Composites (Sins, Switzerland) is introducing AIREX SealX, a new sealing technology that is said to offer a significant reduction in resin uptake in the infused core material. While this reduction is more than 50 percent for 3A’s AIREX T90 and T92 cores, it is reported to be more than 80 percent for its BALTEK SB and SBC balsa cores. Depending on sandwich design, resin uptake can constitute around 15 percent up to 40 percent of the infused core materials’ total costs. 3A says PET-cored sandwiches can now become lighter than PVC solutions. 3A Composites is also launching AIREX T92.80, a new low-density PET core material targeted at weight- and cost-sensitive applications in wind energy, architecture and automotive. It is ideally suited for marine applications as it meets the DNV requirements for boat decks and superstructures.
3B-the fiberglass company (Battice, Belgium) will spotlight an eco-responsible powder grade of Advantex milled fibers. The new grade, MF 01 ER (Eco-Responsible), was developed in full alignment with 3B’s strategic vision for sustainability and displays good dry flow characteristics and dispersion. Advantex MF 01 ER grade is designed to reinforce engineering thermoplastics and also thermosets, providing high modulus, good dimensional stability and shrinkage control. It can be used in a variety of applications in the automotive, electrical and electronic and consumer goods markets. for the wind energy sector, 3B will introduce HiPer-tex W3030 glass fiber, specifically engineered for polyester and vinylester resin systems for infusion processes. At JEC’s Innovation Showcase, 3B will spotlight a new zero-permeation lightweight composite compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder developed by GASTANK AB Sweden and manufactured using HiPer-tex glass fiber enclosing and protecting a novel thermoplastic inner liner.
AXSON Technologies (Eaton Rapids, Mich.) is exhibiting what it says is the only independent heating tool regulated for prepregs outside the autoclave. this tooling, created in cooperation with ENSAM from Lille, produces a vacuum and creates parts as prepregs to be heated outside the autoclave. The heating tool consists of a rigid molded part in 2092 Axson Technologies epoxy-infused carbon or in metal, which provides the part with its geometry, and a flexible heating counter-mold projected in the shape of the part in Axson Technologies SVB20 Silicone. The principle of heating the two parts of the mold enables sandwich parts to be created (thermal insulation). The fact that this tooling can operate independently encourages the creation of large moulds, while economising on large dimension autoclaves. Axson Technologies also is launching a new range of polyurethane adhesives specially designed for gluing composites and plastics intended for industrial use. this new range can be used on automobile assembly lines, in the wind turbine field for assembling structural parts and in the assembly of pleasure boats (gluing deck to hull).
Century Design inc. (CDI, San Diego, Calif.), a supplier of prepreg machines and specialist composite processing equipment, will introduce a small production prepreg machine, targeted at small to medium composite parts producers who want better of controlof materials and processes and reduce material costs. Features and benefits include: Intuitive, fully automated controls that incorporate processing "recipes" to make the machine easy to operate while maintaining strict process control; plug and play design that requires no facility changes to install or operate; optional ply consolidator that enables the production of prepreg widths up to 1000 mm; ability to improve schedule, inventory control, customize resin systems, reduce operating and facility costs and reduce material costs up to 40 percent. also new from CDI is TIPTM (Total Integration Program), a program that delivers the design, technology, processes and implementation for advanced composite material manufacturing facilities. Primarily focused around prepreg manufacturing operations and related downstream activities, TIP ensures that users of CDI prepreg technologies are fully capable and self-sufficient in the implementation of new machinery.
Chomarat (Le Cheylard, France) is featuring C-PLY Bi-Angle, a nonwoven carbon reinforcement (non-crimp fabric) that was launched in 2011 by Chomarat in partnership with a research group of manufacturers and academics working under Professor Tsai from Stanford University. At JEC Europe, Chomarat will present the latest advances and the first industrial parts produced using C-PLY Bi-Angle. It is now possible to produce C-PLY Bi-Angle from glass or glass/carbon hybrid, and to alternate thin and thick plies at angles as small as 20°. To meet demand from aerospace builders and equipment manufacturers, the C-PLY Bi-Angle range is expanding to include constructions that will allow optimizing of composite aerospace parts. The thin plies (50-75 g/m2) in C-PLY Bi-Angle are a key element in the performance of the composite used for the fuselage. Other parts, like beams, can also benefit from this multiaxial assembly at shallow 20° or 30° angles, which allows weight savings of up to 30 percent compared to a standard carbon construction. The material is also being tested to open up possibilities for a new wind turbine blade design. Hybrid shapes are used to increase the material’s bend- twist coupling effect. Chomarat is working on the weights of material used for individual directions, and on the use of different types of fiber, e.g. carbon or glass.
To increase productivity and accuracy for high-speed machining of large pieces, Le Créneau Industriel (Annecy-Le-Vieux, France) has extended its line of CRENO UGV 5 AXES with an overhead moving gantry in the CRENO LINEAR 5 AXES, fitted with linear motors, allowing X and Y feed rate up to 60 m/min. Features include: long and accurate Z travel (over 2,200 mm); standard travels X, 4,000 mm to 16,000 mm (or more); standard travels Y, 2,000 mm to 5,800 mm. The two movements of the five-axis head are driven by brushless motors with heavy-duty epicycloidal reducers. available options include T slot tables, flat steel tables with tapped holes, locatings and vacuum system. The CRENO centers are said to be well suited for high-speed machining of composite materials, aluminium, sandwich panels, plastic materials and electrical insulating materials. The numerical control, which is located in a closed and air-conditioned booth, is a NUM AXIUM POWER or a SIEMENS 840D.
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