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Materials Selection Guide: Aircraft

Product Name Resin Type Tg Cure Temp/Cure Time Description MSDS
Prepregs
BT250E-1 Epoxy

257°F/125°C

  • 60 minutes at 250°F/121°C
  • BT250E-1 is a good moderate service prepreg
  • Self adhesive to core
  • Good toughness
  • MIL-R-9300 qualified
 
EX-1548 Epoxy

262°F/128°C

  • 240 minutes at 200°F/93°C, or 30 minutes at 235°F/113°C or 15 minutes at 250°F/121°C
  • EX-1548 is a quick cure epoxy with extreme toughness
 
RS-1 Epoxy

225°F/107°C

  • 180 minutes at 200°F/93°C
  • Long work life
  • Good balance of
    properties
RS-8HT BMI

590°F/310°C

  • 120 minutes at 400°F/204°C, post cure of 360 minutes at 482°F/250°C
  • RS-8HT provides excellent elevated temperature properties with good toughness and moisture resistance
  • Also available as an RTM resin
   
RS-9D Cyanate
Ester

390°F/199°C or
700°F/371°C
with post cure

  • 120 minutes at 380°F/193°C Optional post cure of 240 minutes at 600°F/316°C
  • Very high temperature properties. Controlled flow with long out time.

TC250

Data Package

Epoxy

284°F/140°C or
374°F/190°C
with post cure

  • 60 minutes at
    190°F/88°C, followed by 120 minutes at
    265°F/130°C. Optional post cure of 60 minutes at 350°F/177°C for higher Tg
  • TC250 is a 250°F/121°C service prepreg. It is designed for vacuum bag cure or autoclave
  • Good surfacing qualities
  • Good toughness
  • Self adhesive to core capability
  • Postcurable 
 
TC275 Epoxy

293°F/145°C or
338°F/170°C
with post cure

  • 360 minutes at 275°F/135°C.
    Optional post cure of 120 minutes at 350°F/177°C
  • Designed for verylow voids <0.5% in thick parts with out of autoclave vacuum cures.
  • Post cureable for higher Tg
  • May be cured at 275°F/135°C or 300°F/350°C (150°F/177°C)
 

TC350

Data Package

Epoxy

397°F/203°C

  • 120 minutes at
    350°F/177°C
  • TC350 is TenCate's latest 350°F/177°C service prepreg. It is a toughened high temperature prepreg
  • Low moisture absorption
  • Good hot/wet performance
  • Ideal for autoclave or press cure
 
TC550 Epoxy

246°F/119°C

  • 75 minutes at
    280°F/138°C
  • TenCate's newest low FST prepreg for interiors, meets 12 second vertical burn
 
Thermoplastic Fabrics & Unitape
Cetex
PEI RTL
Polythermide
(PEI)

419°F/215°C

  • Process temp - 600°F/315°C
  • Cetex PEI either on glass or carbon exhibits high temperature capability and features:
    - Low flammability - V-0
    - Good impact toughness
    - Low moisture
      absorption of 1.25%
    - Qualified at Airbus
       and Boeing
  • Ideal for interior applications ranging from floor panels, to seat plyths, to luggage bins

Carbon: 

 

Glass
Natural: 

Cetex
PPS RTL
 
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)

194°F/90°C

  • Process temp - 625°F/330°C
  • Cetex PPS either on glass or carbon exhibits moderate
    temperature capability and features:
    - High impact resistance
    - Low flammability
  • Ideal for leading edges, structural aircraft parts including interior beams, floor panels

Carbon: 

 

Glass: 

Cetex TC1100 PPS Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)

194°F/90°C

  • Process temp - 625°F/330°C
  • Cetex TC1100 represents thermoplastic unitapes either glass, carbon or aramid with PPS resin

Carbon:

 

Glass:

Cetex TC1200 PEEK Polyetheretherketone(PEEK)

290°F/143°C

  • Process temp - 725°F/385°C
  • Cetex TC1200 represents thermoplastic unitapes either glass, carbon or aramid with PEEK resin
 
Film Adhesives
BF508 Epoxy 186°F/86°C
  • 300 minutes at 250°F/121°C
  • BF508 is a toughened 180°F/82°C to 200°F/93°C service temperature resin film adhesive
  • Available in both supported and unsupported form

BF522 Epoxy 365°F/185°C
  • 120 minutes at 350°F/177°C
  • BF522 is a toughened epoxy. Features low dielectric and low moisture absorption
BF548 Epoxy 262°F/128°C
  • 240 minutes at 180°F/82°C or 30 minutes at 235°F/113°C, or 15 minutes at 250°F/121°C
  • BF548 is a quick cure resin film adhesive, with high toughness and strength
 
TC205 Epoxy 275°F/135°C
  • 120 minutes at 265°F/130°C
  • Compatible toughened resin film for TC250
TC235-1SF Epoxy 246°F/119°C
  • 60 minutes at
    250°F/121°C
  • Vacuum cure composite surfacing film
RTM Resin
RS-50 Epoxy 397°F/203°C
  • 120 minutes at 350°F/177°C
  • Toughened epoxy resin for structural applications
 

Bulk Molding Compounds
MS-1A Epoxy 327°F/164°C High modulus epoxy Tensile Strength 42 ksi
(290 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 19 msi 
(131 GPa)
  
MS-1D Epoxy 327°F/164°C High modulus epoxy Tensile Strength 28 ksi
(193 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 19 msi
(131 GPa)
  
MS-1H Epoxy 327°F/164°C Fast cure intermediate modulus epoxy Tensile Strength 37 ksi
(255 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 10 msi
(69 GPa)
  
MS-2D Epoxy 327°F/164°C High thermal conductivity Tensile Strength 28 ksi
(193 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 19 msi
(131 GPa)
MS-4A Epoxy 327°F/164°C Standard modulus epoxy Tensile Strength 45 ksi
(310 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 9 msi
(62 GPa)
  
MS-4F Cyanate Ester 379°F/193°C Standard modulus cyanate ester Tensile Strength 45 ksi
(310 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 7 msi
(48 GPa)
MS-4H Epoxy 375°F/193°C Fast cure standard modulus epoxy Tensile Strength 44 ksi
(303 MPa)
Tensile Modulus - 6 msi
(41 GPa)
 
Various Thermoplastic Various Standard or intermediate modulus PPS, PEEK or Nylon 11