Mar 12 2013
Automobile manufacturers are now better able to mass produce composite parts thanks to a new binder system introduced by Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. (“Momentive Specialty Chemicals”, “MSC” or the “Company”). The EPIKOTE™ Binder System 620, introduced at the JEC Composites Show in Paris, enables mass production of automotive composite in hot-melt preforming processes.
EPIKOTE Binder System 620 is a one-component, cross-linkable powder binder that can be conveniently applied to carbon or glass fibers and fabrics as a powder using a hot-melt coating process line. In the softening temperature range between 80 – 90°C, the EPIKOTE Binder System 620 exhibits excellent application behavior and provides the fabric with very good workability and drape-ability.
Once the desired shape of preform is achieved, a short cure cycle above 120°C will initiate internal crosslinking of the binder. This higher-temperature fixation gives the preform the right stiffness for easy handling. It also ensures that the preform retains its dimensional stability even under demanding processes such as the high-pressure resin transfer molding (RTM) typical of automotive mass production processing of composite parts.
The EPIKOTE Binder System 620 is very compatible and complementary with the innovative fast-cure EPIKOTE/EPIKURE™ binder systems Momentive Specialty Chemicals has introduced for the Automotive Composite market. “Given the additional preform integrity provided by the cross-linkable binder, it is expected that process developers may be able to increase flow/mold fill rates of increasing complexity of preforms, further reducing the time needed for the RTM injection step,” said Dr. Roman Hillermeier, technology development manager for the Company.