As part of a cooperative effort, the Japanese Toho Tenax group (Europe: Toho Tenax Europe, Wuppertal / Germany; www.tohotenax-eu.com) and German Henkel (Düsseldorf; www.henkel.com) have developed a new prepreg technology based on Henkel’s benzoxazine resin system. Initial applications for the carbon fibre-reinforced prepregs are the auxiliary power unit casings of the Airbus “A 380”. For now Toho Tenax will manufacture the prepregs in Mishima / Japan, with Henkel supplying the resins and hardening agents from Baypoint, California / USA.

The most striking advantage of the resin system is the ability to store the ready prepregs at room temperature, which significantly reduces the amount of energy needed for transport and production. Normal storage temperatures are in the range of -20 °C, to avoid a reaction between the resin and the hardening agent. Henkel says the benzoxazine prepregs, developed as a replacement for epoxy resin systems, are more heat resistant, stable and robust. In addition, those parts made of these prepregs age slower because they absorb less moisture. Nominated as a finalist during this year’s JEC fair (see Plasteurope.com of 26.04.2010), the system has a curing time of 3 hours at a temperature of 180 °C.