JSHS New Material Technology Co., Ltd. launched a series of high-performance, unidirectional (UD) composite strip products at the 2020 China International Composites Industry Technology Exhibition. The product is made of continuous carbon fiber and SABIC ULTEM™ 1000F3SP powder.
JSHS is a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic composite materials and has cooperated with SABIC to develop new unidirectional belts for high-performance aerospace technology applications such as seat frames and luggage racks. As a solution to metal substitution, this one-way belt has many potentials, such as reducing weight to improve fuel efficiency and helping sustainability, which are key goals for the aircraft manufacturing industry. SABIC's ULTEM™ resin powder is a special form of polyetherimide (PEI) that improves strip performance by providing inherent flame retardancy, long-term thermal stability, excellent strength and toughness, and dimensional stability.
Mr. Xu Shenggang, Chief Technology Officer of JSHS, said: "Our cooperation with SABIC has expanded the application of our product portfolio from the field of computer electronic components to the field of high-performance composite materials. Our products can meet the strict requirements of aerospace applications. Choose ULTEM™ 1000F3SP resin Powder allows us to provide a solution for the industry that can replace traditional epoxy resin. It has excellent performance, and because it eliminates curing time, it has a higher processing efficiency than thermoset plastics."
In the manufacturing process, JSHS combines continuous carbon fiber with ULTEM™ 1000F3SP resin powder. This powder complies with the "Directive on Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Components in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)" regulations and has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of up to 217oC ). ULTEM™ 1000F3SP resin powder is easily dispersed in water and can form a uniform slurry between carbon fibers. The resulting composite strip has a high degree of consistency, which is essential for demanding aerospace applications.
Ms. Xu Lili, SABIC`s senior business manager, said: “Our ULTEM™ 1000F3SP resin powder is groundbreaking. It enables JSHS to produce high-performance unidirectional belts to meet the needs of customers in the aerospace industry. This advanced material opens up a way for JSHS. The new market area brings huge development opportunities and at the same time demonstrates SABIC's cooperation philosophy to help customers succeed."
SABIC also produces injection molding grade ULTEM™ resin. Using the same material, ULTEM™ resin injection-molded components can be thermoformed with its unidirectional tape composite material, giving the entire component structural functions. The advantages of this approach include potential recyclability and a high level of design freedom.
Polyetherimide is one of the best thermoplastics in industrial production. This is an amorphous polymer with a very high Tg point (about 70°C higher than PEEK) and excellent impact resistance. It also has excellent flame retardant properties, low smoke emission and low toxicity (FST), and has very low heat release, which has been verified by OSU standard testing.