Pepin Associates Inc. has debuted a co-woven fabric containing a continuous thermoplastic fiber to form parts with deep curvatures. The fabric is a version of the firm's patented DiscoTex reinforcement fabric.
“There is growing interest in thermoplastics in the aerospace and the automotive industries, among other,” states Pepin Associated President John Pepin. “This is due to how rapidly parts may be formed with thermoplastics, as well as the recyclability of these composite materials.”
Three-ply parts are easily made by heating the fabric and pressing it into a female mold.
Another new product from the Greenville, Maine, company is a discontinuous, unidirectional preimpregnated reinforcement tape which can stretch 30 percent to form complex shapes without cutting or darting the material. Pepin Associates offer the DiscoTape with carbon or glass fiber preimpregnated with epoxy resins or thermoplastics. Radomes and other aerospace components are suitable applications for the tapes.
Tel. 207-695-3434, [email protected].