Prepreg Composite with Polyamide 12 and 11 Particles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prepregs face challenges in maintaining high compression strength and damage tolerance, especially under hot and wet conditions, while also achieving high interlaminar fracture toughness, as increasing compression strength often compromises damage tolerance and vice versa.

Innovation Solution

The use of a matrix resin composed of difunctional and multifunctional epoxy resins, combined with thermoplastic particles made from polyamide 12 and polyamide 11, along with a curing agent, to create a pre-impregnated composite material that enhances the structural properties of composite parts without negative impacts on physical or chemical characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If higher modulus resins are selected to increase compression strength, then compression strength is improved, but damage tolerance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression strengthVSAvoiddamage tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite resin system combining thermoset epoxy resin with thermoplastic polymer particles (polyamide 12, polyamide 11, or polyethylene oxide). The thermoset resin provides high compression strength while the thermoplastic particles provide ductility and damage tolerance, creating a composite material that achieves both desired properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the resin parameters by controlling the weight percentage of thermoplastic particles (5-50 wt%), their size (5-50 micrometers), and the glass transition temperature range (0-50°C). These parameter changes optimize the balance between compression strength and damage tolerance, allowing the material to meet both requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If compression strength is maintained under hot and wet conditions, then compression strength is improved, but interlaminar fracture toughness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression strength under hot and wet conditionsVSAvoidinterlaminar fracture toughness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The thermoplastic polymer particles embedded in the thermoset resin matrix create a composite system where the thermoplastic phase provides toughness and delamination resistance while the thermoset phase maintains compression strength under hot and wet conditions. The interfacial interaction between the two phases enhances interlaminar fracture toughness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces thermoplastic particles with specific local properties (ductility, impact resistance) distributed throughout the resin matrix. These localized regions of enhanced toughness prevent crack propagation and delamination without compromising the overall compression strength of the composite material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3105284B1Composite material with polyamide particle mixtures
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 HEXCEL CORP

AI summary

Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided that can be cured/molded to form composite parts having high damage tolerance and interlaminar fracture toughness. The matrix resin includes a thermoplastic particle component that includes a mixture of polyamide 12 particles and polyamide 11 particles.