Solvay Specialty Polymers’ Virantage polyethersulfone (PESU) has been used by a South Korean composites manufacture to improve the toughness, heat resistance and processing consistency of a thermoset composite prepreg.
The prepreg is intended for use by a U.S. automotive OEM for a commercial automotive fender and roof application.
According to the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), fiber-reinforced polymer composites could help reduce the weight of conventional passenger cars by 50% and improve fuel efficiency by nearly 35% without compromising performance or safety. Made using advanced polymer technologies, composites also eliminate corrosion and improve weather resistance versus metal. They also require lower maintenance.
Solvay says that its Virantage PESU tougheners can increase the impact strength of thermoset composites parts by nearly 40% and improve in heat resistance. The micropowders are compatible with a range of epoxy systems and they disperse more quickly when compared to conventional impact modifiers. Virantage PESU tougheners are attracting increasing interest from automotive engineers as an integral part of their vehicle lightweighting strategy as they seek to meet emerging CO2 emission standards, the company reports.
This story is reprinted from material from Solvay, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
