HexPly M901 prepreg accelerates product development cycles

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 T_g 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 T_g of up to 200˚C following post cure.