Scott Bader to Focus on Urethane Acrylate-based Resins at Composites Engineering Show NEC

Scott Bader Ltd. is exhibiting for the first time at the UK Composites Engineering Show 2011 at the NEC, Birmingham from 9th to 10th November. During the show, Dr. Gavin Creech and Dr. Lawrence Cook from Scott Baders R & D Applications Engineering Group will also give an open forum technical presentation about advances in urethane acrylate resin technology for high-performance composite components.

The Scott Bader stand (No. 828) has a special focus on the latest additions to their Crestapol range of high performance urethane acrylate based resins; Crestapol 1250LV and two high temperature grades: Crestapol 1230 and Crestapol 1234. According to Scott Bader, these new Crestapol resins bridge the resin technology gap between polyesters and epoxy resins. They offer superior mechanical and high temperature performance to rival epoxy systems and even high temperature thermoplastics such as PI, PEI and PEEK, yet can still be fabricated using polyester production processes. The new Crestapol resins offer a choice of closed moulding and pultrusion grades. Traditional polyester and vinyl ester resin converters can incorporate carbon fibres as well as glass fibres into designs without having to specify an epoxy resin or carry out any radical processing changes.

Crestapol 1250LV is an ambient curing urethane acrylate thermosetting resin. It has been developed for producing high performance carbon fibre reinforced (CFRP) and glass fibre (GRP) parts by vacuum infusion or resin transfer moulding (RTM). It has processing flexibility to suit different production conditions and requirements. Crestapol 1250LV provides a cost effective alternative to epoxy infusion resin systems, with competitive strength properties and an excellent surface finish with minimal print through. Crestapol urethane acrylate resins will also appeal to epoxy resin users looking to switch to a resin which can be processed at room temperatures, needing only short periods of moderate post curing to achieve good mechanical and high temperature performance.

For applications where very high temperature performance in excess of 240°C is needed, Crestapol 1230 and 1234 grades also offer converters using vacuum infusion, RTM and pultrusion the ability to manufacture CFRP and GRP reinforced laminates with high heat deflection temperature (HDT) options of 243°C for Crestapol 1230 and over 300°C for Crestapol 1234.

Additionally, Scott Bader is featuring their range of primerless Crestabond methacrylate structural adhesives for bonding a wide variety of composite, metal and plastic substrates; none or only minimal surface cleaning of a substrate is required. Crestabond adhesives have been successfully used in a variety of marine and transportation applications. Customers have capitalised on the significant weight saving, performance enhancement and shop floor productivity and health benefits of using a structural adhesive in preference to over-laminating, particularly for larger composite structures.

Information will be available for stand visitors on the entire range of Crystic unsaturated polyester, DCPD and vinyl ester resins, skin coats, gelcoats, tooling products, pigments, bonding pastes and structural adhesives specialty products, developed for a wide range of composites applications in markets such as: chemical containment, marine, transportation, wind energy and buildings.

The new Crestapol high performance urethane acrylate resins added to the Scott Bader range are compatible with carbon and glass reinforcements, developed for both closed moulding and pultrusion.