CAMX 2018 Preview: TenCate Advanced Composites Showcases Cutting‑Edge Thermoplastic & Thermoset Solutions

TenCate Advanced Composites (Morgan Hill, CA, US), a Toray Group company, is highlighting in Booth V15 new thermoplastic and thermoset composite solutions, as well as its new Product Selector app, which provides users with full access to literature along with product comparison tools, and cured ply calculators. Among the technologies of emphasis are:

• Novel use of recycled thermoplastics: TenCate is highlighting the development of a thermoplastic chopped fiber flow layer, which allows almost 100% yields in aerospace-grade thermoplastic laminate applications. This process demonstrates the use of trim and yield loss to produce local reinforcements and discrete parts.
• TenCate TC380 OOA/VBO Epoxy: TC380 offers high compression-after-impact strengths while maintaining good open hole compression strength. A 90-plus ply part is on display, demonstrating less than 0.1% voids in VBO processing.
• Aniform software: A demonstration part and fabrication video highlights the use of this novel simulation software, which characterizes and optimizes thermoplastic part molding conditions, minimizing manufacturing trials and shortens development times.
• TenCate TC1320 PEKK: TenCate’s thermoplastic unidirectional tapes are part of Airbus’s TAPAS program thermoplastic upper spar demonstrator. A video demonstrates the manufacturing flexibility of the company’s thermoplastic unitapes in large-part automated tape laying (ATL) fabrication.
• Dr. Hans Luinge, TenCate’s thermoplastic R&D development manager, is presenting a technical paper on the benefits of a hybrid thermoset/thermoplastic composite solution for optimizing the material performance and minimizing cost.
• HP Spectre laptop case: This lightweight, ultrathin thermoplastic case minimizes heat transfer through the bottom of the laptop, while providing an impact-resistant, UL-94-compliant solution.
• High-Performance footwear laminates: TenCate’s thermoplastic laminates, used by several athletic footwear brands, are on display. These materials are designed for high-volume production solutions to support the latest generation of footwear and medical orthotics.