Prepreg manufacture

A prepreg comprises a fiber reinforcement, embedded in an uncured thermoset polymer matrix, or a thermoplastic matrix (Section 21.4.5). The reinforcement can be unidirectional or fabric based. 

Prepreg can be made using wet resins, molten resin, or resin coated film. The technology of mixing, coating resins and making prepreg is proprietary. 

Applied Composites Engineering Ltd. Pelham Barn, Millcourt, Shenstone, S. Staffs., UK 

Dixon Company Ltd. (coating equipment) Letchworth, Herts., UK 

Hoffman Schwabe (coating equipment) Krefeld, Germany 

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The chapter is divided into a section on development of process cycles or plans and a section on in-process control. The tools to be discussed include design of experiments, expert systems, models, neural networks, and a variety of combinations of these techniques. The processes to be discussed include injection molding, resin transfer molding, autoclave curing, and prepreg manufacturing. The relative cost and difficulty of developing tools for these applications will be discussed where data is available. 

PMDA may be dissolved in acetone at reflux temperatures the solution is stable for 7 days and can be used for prepreg manufacture. 

Unidirectional carbon fiber prepreg manufactured by Sunkyung Industry Co., Suwon, Korea. 

Table 21.7 lists companies who manufacture carbon fiber prepreg equipment. Prepreg manufacturers do make their own in-house equipment (Figure 21.68) and a typical layout of a prepreg machine is shown in Figure 21.69. 

Fiber Innovations Inc., Norwood, Massachusetts, USA—a thermoplastic prepreg manufacturer. 

Quadrax Advanced Materials Systems Inc., Portsmouth, Rhode Island, USA—a prepreg manufacturer. 

US Polymeric, USA, A prepreg manufacturer acquired by British Petroleum and then by Fiberite Ltd. 

A typical blade of large wind turbines consists of outer skins supported by a main spar and stiffeners. The blades are generally constructed using fibre/ polymeric matrix composites and may have a sandwich construction with low density polymer foam or balsa wood cores. The epoxy-based eomposites are of greatest interest to wind turbine manufacturers beeause they dehver a combination of environmental, production and cost advantages over other resin systems. Epoxies also improve wind turbine composite blade manufacture by allowing a shorter cure cycle, increased durability and improved surface finish. The utilisation of epoxy infusion or prepreg manufacture (see Sections... 

Phenolic - Laminating Other Resin Systems - continued Prepreg, manufacture Borden Chemical... 

Prepreg Manufacture (See also under other resin systems.)... 

A flame retardant structural grade epoxy for prepreg manufacture and vacuum bag processing. Cure temperature 160-175 C and a service temperature of 70 C. Meets MIL-R-9300, Type I, Grade D. 

A cyanate ester resin for prepreg manufacture, autoclave and vacuum bag processing, offering high temperature wet condition performance. Cure temperature 175 C and an equivalent hot-wet service temperature. 

A low cost, all-purpose polyester for prepreg manufacture which in-tum offers a cost-effective alternative to wet-lay processes. Approved for radome application. Cure temperature 80 - lOS C and service temperature up to 70 C. 

A low temperature curing polyester for prepreg manufacture to replace wet lay-up techniques. 

A flame retardant modified polyester for prepreg manufacture. Meets MIL-R-7575, Grade A B. 

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