Hexcel (Stamford, Connecticut / USA; www.hexcel.com) has introduced a light weight polyurethane system to meet the demand for lighter, “casual” touring skis. “Modipur” was launched at the ISPO 2011 winter sports exhibition in Munich / Germany and is claimed to offer good mechanical properties at low density compared with traditionally used wooden core materials.

The company also displayed its fast curing “HexPly” M77 epoxy prepreg resin system, which offers cure cycles of under five minutes – two minutes at 150°C – and provides an efficient composite manufacturing process for ski and snowboards. The reactive system has a shelf life of six weeks at 23°C and provides good adhesive properties when bonding to honeycombs or aluminium. Hexcel has launched a range of prepregs with glass or carbon reinforcements in multiaxial form, along with woven fabrics and UD tapes, based on the “HexPly” M77 system.