PREPREG TECHNOLOGY: what it is and how it works
What is Prepreg
Prepregs (PREimPREGnated sheet materials) are flat semi-finished products (tapes) consisting of a matrix of polymer-based resin and a variety of fibers such as glass, carbon, aramid, etc. as reinforcement.
After this treatment, the semi-finished product goes through a fiber cutting machine and is treated with heat and pressure. The main method for manufacturing prepreg components is the autoclave processing vacuum bag.
Prepreg is the base material for Printed circuit Boards (PCB) and main structural parts for civil engineering, electronics industry and, of course, energy and aerospace.
Configuration of Prepregs
Resins are usually thermoset systems as epoxy or thermoplastic systems as PPS or Peek. The resins can be solvent-based or solvent-free. Typical reinforcements are glass fibers, carbon fibers, and aramid fibers. The fibers can be impregnated as fabric, UD (uni-directional) and muli-axial. The variety of matrix and reinforcements require flexible and adaptable prepreg manufacturing processes.
Cavitec, with more than 50 years of experience and more than 150 prepreg-lines supplied around the world, engineers and produces machines for prepreg continuously developing features which are key issues for excellent product quality.