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Fast-Cure Epoxy Resin Systems Help Reduce Production Cycle Times on Award-Winning CFRP Deck Lid Concept

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Hexion Inc. contributed materials and processing expertise that helped speed production and reduce weight in a 2016 JEC Innovation Award winning automotive deck lid concept, the company announced recently. The deck lid was designed by Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) and consisted of a sheet molding compound (SMC) outer and a Hexion epoxy resin-based, carbon fiber resin transfer molded (RTM) inner.

The carbon fiber structural inner component, made of preformed carbon fiber mats infused with Hexion’s latest fast-cure, epoxy-based resin system in an RTM process, was key in helping reduce the component’s overall part-to-part cycle time to less than three minutes, the company reported. It also contributed to the deck lid’s weight reduction of 13 percent versus aluminum.

The new deck lid concept was developed to compare the weight of steel or aluminum deck lids with those made from composite materials, and to try to reduce the production time for the carbon fiber composite components.

This JEC Innovation Award was in the Automotive Exterior Parts category. The goals of such awards are to identify, promote, and reward the most innovative composite solutions worldwide to help advance the composites industry. Selection criteria include technical excellence, exemplariness of partners, market potential, and originality.

Hexion (Hexion.com), formerly known as Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc., serves global industrial markets with a broad range of thermoset technologies.