Cincinatti, Ohio – Two new polyurethane dispersions from Michelman have been developed as fibre sizing for under-the-bonnet automotive applications.
The U470 and U480 Hydrosize Link dispersions react directly with the matrix resin, giving a composite that performs well under typical conditions in a car’s engine compartment. These conditions include extreme exposure to water, ethylene glycol and high temperatures, the company said.
The technology simplifies the fibre manufacturing process as secondary crosslinkers such as blocked isocyanates do not need to be added to the sizing bath. The company also claims that it also gives better control over the desired degree of reactivity. The two Hydrosize Link grades offer different levels of reactivity, it added.
“These new products solve critical problems and challenges encountered by fibre and composite manufacturers,” said Rick Michelman, the company’s chief growth & technology officer. “Innovators from across the automotive industry supply chain have asked for specialised solutions that allow them to expand the use of high performance composites.”
He added that although fibre sizings make up just 0.2–0.3% of a finished composite part, they can have a big impact on performance.
