High-performance fire-retardant resin series for composites

AOC (Collierville, Tenn., U.S.), a global supplier of polyester/vinyl ester resins and specialty materials, has developed the R003 Resin Series, a product line featuring low-viscosity, non-filled, non-halogenated, fire-retardant polyester resins. Firepel R003 resins are ideally suited for use in liquid molding processes such as vacuum infusion, resin transfer molding (RTM) and wet molding for the manufacture of high-performance composite parts.

AOC designed the Firepel R003 Resin Series to provide optimal mechanical and thermal performance compared to traditional polyester resins while also meeting the requirements of UL2596 for electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosure materials and Docket 90 safety standards for transit bus and van materials. Thus, potential applications include EV battery enclosures, mass transportation parts (e.g., bus, rail, marine and automotive) and architectural projects.

This new resin technology is formulated using a combination of innovative polyester chemistries and flame-retardant additives to achieve both mechanical and fire performance properties, according to AOC. They enable easy handling and processing, while the flame-retardant additives provide improved fire resistance. In addition to thermal stability, composites parts using Firepel R003 Series Resins are said to exhibit high mechanical properties when used in combination with continuous reinforcements (fabrics).

Moreover, AOC’s Firepel R003 Resin Series products will allow for the molding of thinner and stronger composite fire-retardant parts, with low density thanks to the resins’ non-filled characteristics.

AOC will be presenting a paper at CAMX on this technology titled “Non-Filled, Non-Halogenated Polyester Resin for FST Applications.”