Graphene Enhanced Composite Tooling

Описание: Fibre-reinforced composites are gaining in use across a myriad of sectors. Whether metal or composite moulds are used, the trade-offs must be considered. For example, lighter composite tools are typically less durable compared to metal tools but they are also less expensive.

Haydale has developed a graphene-enhanced epoxy prepreg tooling material that is designed to deliver cost-efficient composite tooling with extended tooling life, improved surface quality and enhanced thermal conductivity.

Working with UK automotive Tier 1 composites parts manufacturer, Prodrive, the nano-enhanced material has more than doubled the manufacture of composite parts.

Using Haydale’s functionalised graphene in the tooling prepreg has so far delivered in excess of 500 parts from a single mould tool and is still in production. The standard version would produce approximately 250 pulls before replacement was needed.

This solution can easily be adopted into standard processing and requires fewer repeat sets of tools per program, which reduces the carbon footprint while using a more cost-effective product.

Presented by Simon Green, Haydale Composite Solutions and moderated by Terrance Barkan, The Graphene Council.