Rene Herrmann 2011

 Materials constist of at least 2 components, MATRIX and REINFORCEMENT.  MATRIX is resin  REINFORCEMENT is fiber  Resin types are polyester, vinylester, epoxy  Fiber types are glas, carbon and aramid fibers (aramid is kevlar)

 Composites are unisotropic materials (theri characteristics depend on the direction (fibers)  Composites are chemically (rather) stable, strong and stiff as compared to their mass  Composites are more expensive than traditional materials (metal) and their strength collapses at around 200C.

 Manufacturing of composite products is complex and often slow.  Interconnections between composites are difficult, optioins are seconary bonding and clueing  Composites degrade in UV light and need surface coatings that protect the resin MATRIX  Composite manufacturing requires a mould, form or plug to laminate on

 The product must be laminated, a mould is needed  Moulds must release the laminate after it has been made (release agent on many such are needed)  Moulds must have a better surface finish than the product you are making.  Moulds are often milled and then polished.  Hand polishing is done until until 400 sandpapper and 800 to 1200 (2000) with water sandpapper and after that with polishing machine to ’optical’ surface finishes  Hand polishing takes 20 to 30 hours/m^2, this is what makes mould costs high.

 The market is small and export oriented.  There are 3 big market section in Finland( Boats, Aircraft, chemical industry)  NCE Oy (chemically corrosion resistant materials for heavy industry)  Nautor Swan and Baltic yachts, marine super yacht construction, low mass and sea water tolerant  Kesko marine, marine mass producer, motor speed boats, sea water resistant and some low mass issues  Air craft part manufacturing (Airbus A 380 spoilers, Patria Oy, low mass)

 The marine lamination capacity in Finland is large and high tech and suffers of economic down turn.  Vihicle sector (trucks and train parts) is starting to establish itself (small scale)  Chemical sector is expanding  Sports equipment on small scale is coming (wake bord, kite bord, skis)  Wind turbine market is coming but very competitive  Aircraft market is small and remains marginal

 What is glue and what is resin?  What is the difference between polyester, vinylester and expoxy (table with (strength, strain, chemical and thermal stability, price, viscosity)?  How is resin setting (geltime, barcol hardness, post cureing)?  What is hand lamination, vacuum infusion, vacuum bagging and auto clave lamination?  Which fiber volume fractions can be reached with above methods?