Polyurethane matrix resin and innovative adhesives

JEC Europe, the biggest composites exhibition in Europe, will open its doors from March 27 to 29 in Paris, Porte de Versailles. Henkel, the worldwide leading producer of adhesives, will present innovative solutions for the industry at the fair.
Composites based on carbon fiber or glass fiber are gaining momentum in various application areas due to the opportunity for enormous weight savings over traditional part construction, with no loss in mechanical performance. Starting in aerospace where pre-impregnated fibers (prepregs) are manually laid up and then baked into composites, many different applications are now penetrating into the automotive industry. New manufacturing methods like resin transfer molding enable economic processes that are suited for high volume automotive production.
Loctite MAX2
For the resin transfer molding process, Henkel has developed a new composite matrix resin based on polyurethane which enables improved economics and throughput in processing. Compared to standard epoxy matrix resins, the new Loctite MAX2 cures significantly faster. During injection, it also enables more efficient impregnation without stressing the fibers due to the lower viscosity of the resin.
Hysol EA 9845 SF and Hysol EA 9658
Henkel will also showcase composite parts solutions for the aerospace industry. The focus will be on Hysol EA 9845 SF .020 PSF (98g/m2), an epoxy-based composite surfacing film, which contains a non-woven fabric, designed to improve the surface quality of honeycomb stiffened composite parts. The product reduces surface imperfections, provides a 30% weight savings compared to current surfacing films and minimizes prepaint preparation. Another focus will be on Hysol EA 9658, a nacelle film adhesive for the aerospace industry. It combines high temperature strength controlled flow to minimize hole blockage and flash/ flow clean up in the shop. The innovative product features approximately three times the toughness of industry standard high temperature film adhesives and is suitable for metal, composite and honeycomb bonding where continuous exposure to temperatures up to 177 degrees Celsius is important.
Macroplast UK 1340
The energy turnaround and the push to expand renewable energy generation is posing major challenges for manufacturers of wind energy plants. To ensure economic viability, efforts are focusing first on improving the availability and productivity of existing production facilities. One of the wind energy industry’s top priorities is to maximize utilization rates by speeding up manufacturing processes in order to reduce unit costs and achieve a rapid payback on investments. In rotor blade production, one obvious way of accelerating the process would be to use polyurethane-based adhesives for rotor blade bonding, although these represent a very recent development in the wind power industry. Traditionally, blade shells and spars have been bonded using two-component epoxy resins. While these materials reliably meet the extremely high mechanical specifications, they are rapidly reaching their limits when it comes to the automation of manufacturing processes. New technologies are therefore needed to speed up and automate production. Henkel will showcase a solution in the shape of its polyurethane adhesive Macroplast UK 1340. The specialist in high-performance polyurethane adhesives has succeeded in developing a PUR adhesive that satisfies the specific mechanical requirements for use in the wind power industry and makes rotor blade production more efficient. Polyurethane-based adhesives react much faster than the epoxy resins used up to now. Since it is not only highly reactive but also produces substantially less reaction heat, this two-component adhesive considerably reduces both the duration and the temperature of the cure phase.
Loctite Frekote CS-122
Frekote mold sealers from Henkel are favored worldwide by manufacturers in a variety of molding processes. When applied to a mold, Frekote sealers form micro-thin, thermally stable surfaces that are chemically bonded to the mold surface sealing micro porosity. Henkel will showcase its new Loctite Frekote CS-122 at this year’s JEC. It reduces the curing time to two hours leading to faster production. The new product also seals larger porosities better because it allows thicker coatings. Application is easier as the product can either be sprayed or wiped on the surface. The Loctite Frekote CS-122 can be applied at room temperature between 13°C and 40°C Celsius making the energy consuming heating of the mold unnecessary. Cured, the sealing remains stable at temperatures of as much as 400°C Celsius.
Henkel at booth R 45 at the JEC
Customers looking for more information regarding the innovation or who would like to talk to an adhesives expert will find Henkel at the booth R45.
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA