PCT possesses acknowledged polymer engineering expertise and designs custom resin systems to meet and/or exceed the specifications provided by its customers.
Expertise in sophisticated composite matrices and resins, such as epoxy resins, polyester-vinyl ester and polymide materials, is offered by Power and Composite Technologies. It is the resin-matrix materials, such as fiberglass resin, acrylic resin, carbon fiber resin, thermoplastic resin, phenolic resin and the ability of resin transfer molding, that give components their shape, protect reinforcing fibers and provide a medium through which loads transfer from one fiber to another.
Selecting the right resin system depends mainly on the environment where the composite structure will be subjected. The table below shows a list of typical polymer matrix systems and how they compare to each other.
| characteristic | epoxy | phenolic |
poly/vinylester | cynate ester | bmi |
| cost | low | low |
lowest | highest | high |
| maximum temperature, ºF | 350 | 350 |
250 | 700 | 500 |
| out-gassing | moderate | --- |
--- | lowest | --- |
| strength | high | low |
low | --- | high |
| flame retard | high | highest |
low |
| --- |
| toughness | low | --- |
--- | high | --- |
| viscosity | low | low |
low | --- | low |
| processability | easy | moderate |
easy | moderate | moderate |
| moisture absorption | high | --- |
moderate | --- | --- |
| dielectric constant | low | --- |
--- | low | --- |
Contact a PCT Sales Engineer and Design Engineering Associate to help select the best matrix/resin for your application.
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