Title: Transparent Composites Based an a Thermoset Resin Reinforced with S-2 Glass® Fiber

Authors: Ayumi Takaoka, Craig Homrighausen, Mike Palmer, David Rathburn, Leonid Vorobyev, Brian S. Hayes

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.21.0444

Abstract: Fiber reinforced plastics or composites are known for their exceptional strength to weight ratio, far outperforming engineering plastics exemplified by acrylics and polycarbonates. An interesting feature of these engineering plastics is their transparency, which allows their use in applications where transmittance of light or see-through visibility is important. A transparent composite therefore expands the potential application of composites to uses where both mechanical strength and transmittance of light are desirable. We hereby present a transparent composite system that achieves such features. This composite consists of thermoset resin reinforced with S-2 Glass® fiber. The tensile and flexural properties of unidirectional (UD) laminates produced from drum wound prepreg were determined and compared to a baseline resin system containing the same fiber. Comparable tensile but superior flexural properties were observed in the transparent system. The light transmittance of the composites was assessed relative to engineering plastics as well as baseline thermoset composites. The described composite system therefore offers previously unavailable benefits compared to non-transparent composites, including means of facile non-destructive visual inspection, in-situ process evaluation, as well as applicability of composites for load-bearing applications requiring the transmittance of light.Fiber reinforced plastics or composites are known for their exceptional strength to weight ratio, far outperforming engineering plastics exemplified by acrylics and polycarbonates. An interesting feature of these engineering plastics is their transparency, which allows their use in applications where transmittance of light or see-through visibility is important. A transparent composite therefore expands the potential application of composites to uses where both mechanical strength and transmittance of light are desirable. We hereby present a transparent composite system that achieves such features. This composite consists of thermoset resin reinforced with S-2 Glass® fiber. The tensile and flexural properties of unidirectional (UD) laminates produced from drum wound prepreg were determined and compared to a baseline resin system containing the same fiber. Comparable tensile but superior flexural properties were observed in the transparent system. The light transmittance of the composites was assessed relative to engineering plastics as well as baseline thermoset composites. The described composite system therefore offers previously unavailable benefits compared to non-transparent composites, including means of facile non-destructive visual inspection, in-situ process evaluation, as well as applicability of composites for load-bearing applications requiring the transmittance of light.

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Conference: SAMPE NEXUS 2021

Publication Date: 2021/06/29

SKU: TP21-0000000444

Pages: 12

Price: FREE