Hexion Launches Advanced Two‑Component Epoxy System to Streamline Aerospace Composite Manufacturing

At JEC World 2019, Hexion Inc. (Columbus, Ohio, U.S.) launched a two-component epoxy manufacturing solution based on its EPIKOTE system 600-2 resin and curing agent. The goal of the solution, the company says, is to relieve production constraints for aerospace composites while maintaining the highest level of performance in finished parts.

Based on Hexion’s EPIKOTE system 600-2 Part A (resin) and Part B (curing agent), the solution uses a metering and mixing unit from Hübers (Bocholt, Germany), a leader in casting and impregnating mixing technology. Hexion has developed in-line analytic control for the unit for efficient and accurate control of the dosing of the epoxy raw materials before the mixture is infused into a mold.

“To meet the aerospace industry’s strict performance requirements, epoxy composites have typically been produced by resin transfer molding or by infusion with closely controlled one-part systems, which have required cold transport and storage in small pails because of their inherent reactivity,” says Jean Rivière, epoxy global aerospace segment leader at Hexion. “The increasing use of composites across a range of structural aerospace applications has placed considerable pressure on this manufacturing approach. Hexion’s new two-component solution is designed to address this challenge, while delivering the highest quality finished parts.”