Creating a New Range of Carbon Fibre Composites
Haydale has an established global supply chain creating a competitive manufacturing process for graphene-enhanced composite prepreg.
We have extensive experience in the design and manufacture of carbon fibre composites. By combining our HDPlas® functionalisation process with our expertise in graphene engineering and nano additive chemistry, we have developed a range of graphene-enhanced carbon fibre prepregs. We have created and tested multiple prepreg formulations that deliver enhanced mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.
These materials will be the basis on which we work with customers to develop cost effective, tailored carbon fibre composite prepregs for volume manufacture. This positions us strongly to service the composites tooling and specialist component markets.
We believe that this represents the next generation of carbon fibre prepregs, from which a range of materials with specific performance characteristics can be manufactured. By adding graphene nanomaterials, these prepregs will increase the impact resistance and compression after impact performance of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy components. Applications include aerospace, automotive, space and sports goods such as bike frames and racing boats.
Electrically Enhanced Prepreg
Haydale’s electrically enhanced prepreg has been specifically designed to enhance the electrical conductivity of the laminate.
This prepreg material delivers a new generation of carbon fibre-reinforced composites having improved electrical conductivity. These materials can be used for structural components as well as for enclosures for the electronic avionics systems.
The materials developed have potential applications with regards to UAVs (drones) along with commercial aviation in general, and space applications. This technology has additional applications with regards to wind turbine blades, particularly in offshore locations which are susceptible to lightning strike.
An electrically conductive masterbatch is also commercially available and the Haydale team has been working with customers to test the capability, achieving significant results over existing materials.
The enhanced resin provides improved performance for use in:
- Lightning strike
- Edge glow
- Electrical screening
Mechanically Enhanced Prepreg
Haydale has developed a range of nanomaterial enhanced prepregs for use in the manufacture of sporting goods and other component prepreg applications. The prepreg materials have shown significant performance improvements in comparison to standard materials. By successfully embedding HDPlas® functionalised nanomaterials into polymers, prepreg with enhanced mechanical properties is produced.
Product highlights:
Enhanced resin dominated mechanical properties with improved performance in the following:
- Interlaminar shear
- Fracture toughness
Thermally Enhanced Prepreg
Composite tooling is widely used in the manufacture of composite component parts because of the significant reduction in mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between materials when compared to metal tooling.
Haydale has successfully embedded HDPlas® functionalised nanomaterials into polymers and has produced prepreg with enhanced thermal conductivity.
Haydale has an established global supply chain creating a competitive manufacturing process for nanomaterial enhanced composite prepreg, demonstrating enhanced thermal management by improving thermal conductivity.
One of the applications in which the material is proving successful is for composite tooling, which is widely used in the manufacture of composite component parts because of the significant reduction in mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between materials when compared to metal tooling. Haydale has successfully embedded HDPlas® functionalised nanomaterials into polymers and has produced prepreg with enhanced thermal conductivity.
Product highlights:
- 30% increase in thermal conductivity
- More homogeneous cure
- Provides options for the thermal management of components