These include the PulStrand 4100 roving, which has improved processing qualities, strength, and fatigue resistance in a multi-compatible product for polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, and polyurethane resin systems. This material has the potential to provide faster line speeds while reducing downtime, scrap, and labor, and improves the modulus and durability of the pultruded profiles for a variety of high-performance markets.
The sizing chemistry of the PulStrand 4100 product ensures improved resin-to-glass adhesion and faster wet-out by more than 50% when compared to existing products . Further tests have also shown a reduction of fuzz formation of up to 92%, less part bowing, and deformation and improved humidity resistance.
In addition, the sizing also allows for increased glass content (higher modulus) and helps to improve the flexural, shear, and compressive strength of composite products.
The PulStrand 4100 product covers a wide tex range (600-9600) and can be customized to specific application requirements allowing for the production of profiles for the consumer, recreation, corrosion, electrical, transportation, and construction markets.
Process flexibility
Owens Corning has also developed the OC Paneluxe multi-end roving for continuous lamination of translucent and general purpose applications. This product allows for design and process flexibility, as well as mechanical and transparency performance. Formulated for use with polyester and vinyl-ester resins in a wide range of applications, the OC Paneluxe product reportedly allows for more homogeneous glass fiber mats and better fiber repartition. This multi-functional product reduces the number of glass changeovers.
The roving provides great translucency and clarity with greater than 80% light transmittance and up to 25% increased clarity versus typical competitive products.
OC Paneluxe roving can be used in a variety of applications requiring flat and corrugated translucent and opaque panels such as roofing and skylights for industrial and commercial buildings, greenhouses, cold storage warehouses, and wall panels in commercial kitchens and hospitals. The product can also be used for panel components in building (garage doors, awnings, patio covers, fences, and windbreaks) and in transportation (trucks/trailers, railcars and recreational vehicles).
Weight reduction
Owens Corning has also introduced HydroStrand 258 glass fiber chopped strands for polyamide (PA) resins. The product provides improved dry-as-molded properties in a wide range of PA formulations, as well as a better performance in glycol resistant PA 6,6 formulations. It enables designers to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance. Typical applications in automotive include oil and fluid pump housings, oil pans and powertrain parts. The product delivers up to 22% increase in impact strength when used in impact modified grades. It increases the potential to integrate automotive functions and be flexible in designing efficient parts.