European Teijin Carbon Corporation announced a new type of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)-based thermoplastic unidirectional prepreg (TPUD) with carbon fiber on May 19. Teijin stated that the new Tenax TPUD with a PPS matrix allows entry into cost-sensitive new markets, while providing the traditional advantages of TPUD, such as resistance to chemicals and solvents, low flammability, storage or transportation at room temperature, and recyclability Sex.
Due to its flame retardant properties and low smoke emissions, this new Tenax prepreg tape can be used for interior applications in aircraft or railway vehicles and other applications. The maximum continuous working temperature can be as high as 220°C. The material is characterized by low water absorption, good high temperature creep resistance, and high dimensional stability. According to Teijin, these characteristics make the product suitable for use in combination with automatic tape laying machines (ATL) or automatic silk laying machines (AFP) and with overmolding of complex geometries. Teijin also pointed out that compared with polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or polyaryl ether ketone (PAEK), the processing temperature of PPS is lower. Regardless of the resin matrix, Teijin Tenax TPUD prepreg tapes can provide a variety of fiber basis weights ranging from 100 to 190g/m2, with a roll length of up to 2000 meters and a width of up to 24 inches.
For the past 10 years, unidirectional prepreg tape (TPUD) has been made of carbon fiber and thermoplastics from the Heinsburg plant in Germany. So far, semi-finished products have been provided with PEEK or PAEK-now PPS is added to the list of available matrices. Compared with PEEK or PAEK, PPS allows a lower process temperature. Especially for the industrial market, increasing productivity to increase the cost-effectiveness of the process is a milestone.