Scott Bader believes its new Crestapol 1234 high temperature thermoset composites resin can outperform existing thermoplastic and thermoset materials offering a heat deflection temperature (HDT) above 300°C.

Developed at the company's R&D Centre in Wollaston, UK, Scott Bader believes Crestapol 1234 can outperform special epoxy systems, poyimides, PEEK, PEI, PES, PEK and even cyanate esters.

Crestapol 1234 has performed so well that Scott Bader researchers found it difficult to accurately measure the ultimate performance levels of a fully cured test piece. A number of independent materials test houses were unable to accurately measure the heat deflection temperature (HDT) and the thermal decomposition temperature of Crestapol 1234 since conventional test equipment for composite resins could not measure values above 300°C.

Tests were finally carried out by two different accredited test houses. The HDT testing was carried out by Intertek Plastics Technology Laboratories, Massachusetts, USA, which determined the HDT of Crestapol 1234 to be in excess of 300°C.

The thermal decomposition temperature was measured by Gearing Scientific, Cambridge, UK, which recorded the thermal decomposition temperature for Crestapol 1234 at 330°C in air and 340°C in inert gas. Post curing at temperatures above the resins standard 200°C post cure temperature does not affect the decomposition temperature.

Crestapol 1234 resin is being commercialised with a range of viscosities suitable for manufacturing filled and reinforced composites parts by hand lay-up or closed moulding, with a gel time of 16-17 minutes.

The resin is expected to find applications in the aerospace, automotive, electrical and electronics, and oil and gas markets.
 
(Materials technology e Reinforced Plastics)