HexPly M901 prepreg accelerates product development cycles
Hexcel’s HexPly M901 prepreg system reportedly reduces production time of composite leaf springs.
Photo Credit: Rassini
Rassini (Mexico City, Mexico), a technology leader in composite vehicle suspension systems, has selected Hexcel’s (Stamford, Conn., U.S.) HexPly M901 prepreg system to speed up prototype and new product development cycles. Using this system, Rassini hopes to reduce overall time to market and enable cost-effective production.
As a specialist in the mass production of composite helper leaf springs for OEMs, Rassini continuously develops new suspension component designs. Due to cost and timing, however, these new products cannot easily be prototyped using conventional high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) technology.
With more than 15 years of experience in delivering glass fiber prepregs for the serial production of composite leaf springs, Hexcel developed its high-performance HexPly M901 prepreg system specifically for this type of application.
HexPly M901 is a high Tg epoxy resin prepreg system specifically developed for structural components that will be exposed to harsh thermal and environmental conditions. With short cure cycles of 10 minutes and below, HexPly M901 reportedly delivers a combination of benefits for suspension component applications. It produces green (i.e., handling) strength of the composite part for demolding and unidirectional (UD) glass fiber aerial weights up to 1,600 grams per square meter.
Further, HexPly M901 is claimed to offer significant advantages for lower volume serial production of composite mono leaf springs. HexPly M901’s mechanical performance is approximately 15% higher than standard prepregs, with enhanced fatigue properties and a Tg of up to 200˚C following post cure.
Related Content
-
PEEK vs. PEKK vs. PAEK and continuous compression molding
Suppliers of thermoplastics and carbon fiber chime in regarding PEEK vs. PEKK, and now PAEK, as well as in-situ consolidation — the supply chain for thermoplastic tape composites continues to evolve.
-
The lessons behind OceanGate
Carbon fiber composites faced much criticism in the wake of the OceanGate submersible accident. CW’s publisher Jeff Sloan explains that it’s not that simple.
-
TU Munich develops cuboidal conformable tanks using carbon fiber composites for increased hydrogen storage
Flat tank enabling standard platform for BEV and FCEV uses thermoplastic and thermoset composites, overwrapped skeleton design in pursuit of 25% more H2 storage.