Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) molding company Super Resin Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) has developed an environmentally friendly epoxy resin system for use in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials that aligns with sustainable development goals.

Super Resin’s matrix system is a blend of glycol lignin derived from Japanese Cedar and epoxy resin, resolving both the issue of reduced mechanical properties — common when mixing epoxy resins with additives for use in CFRP — and the use of environmentally friendly substances.

Recently, Super Resin introduced a recycling box for damaged clothes, and the box itself is made from glycol lignin-containing epoxy resin CFRP (right). This is just one example of the many things Super Resin can produce with this material.

Prepreg made with the glycol lignin-containing epoxy resin systems has also shown some distinctive characteristics. For example, compared to conventional prepreg, which needs to be stored frozen to inhibit the curing reaction of the resin, prepreg using this resin system shows potential for long-term storage at room temperature, contributing to the reduction of power consumption during material storage.

Super Resin also has developed a proprietary technology for foaming epoxy resin, which has been applied to develop closed-cell, rigid foam, made from 100% glycol lignin, which is useful as core material for sandwich panels. 

For more information, please contact Akihiko Nogiwa, Kyokuto Boeki Kaisha, Ltd. (nogiwa@kbk.co.jp).