Resins, additives, adhesives and 3D printing solutions

Arkema (King of Prussia, Pa., U.S.) offers a broad portfolio of products — resins, additives, adhesives and 3D printing solutions — for composites fabricators to enhance performance, durability and sustainability. Its materials are said to address major challenges, including decarbonizing the industry; accelerating the development of new energies; promoting the circular economy; and taking actions for health and well-being.

Resins

Elium resins offer increased sustainability by using recycled content. They are said to possess the same properties as previous virgin grades, such as processability, manufacturing conditions and performance of the final composite. What sets them apart, Arkema notes, is their lower environmental impact and the ability to manufacture more sustainable parts.

Kepstan polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) is a high-performance resin widely used in the aerospace sector that brings together a distinctive combination of properties over a wide temperature range. 

UDX Arkema composites are semi-finished products impregnated with bio-sourced and recyclable thermoplastic resins. UDX PPA and UDX PA11 are especially suitable for manufacturing high-pressure hydrogen gas storage tanks and liquid hydrogen storage, respectively.

Additives 

Arkema offers additives that enhance the toughness, strength, curing, adhesion and initiate the polymerization of a matrix. Clearstrength XT, Orgasol, Nanostrength and Graphistrength are solutions that improve toughness; Plastistrength is for viscosity control. The company’s Sartomer range offers specialty cross-linkers and bio-based monomers to lower volatile organic compounds (VOC), while Luperox and Retic provide efficient polymerization initiation.

Adhesives and bonding solutions from Bostik (Colombes, France), Arkema’s Additive Solutions segment, include the SAF and FIT range for structural MMA, Born2Bond for instant adhesives, and the SMP and extended range for sealants. The Pliogrip range (2K polyurethane and 2K epoxy) is focused on safer low monomer polyurethane adhesives.

3D printing

3D printing solutions, created in partnership with Continuous Composites, use N3xtDimension photocurable UV resin solutions. PolyMat High T_g and CeraMat Carbon/Carbon resins are used to print continuous carbon and glass fibers. Additionally, Arkema offers Rilsan fine powders and Kepstan PEKK for powder bed fusion.

Piezotech electroactive polymers can be used for numerous applications, such as monitoring the structural health of composites. They possess flexibility, lightness and low energy consumption, making them the materials of choice for intelligent composites.