Formax, a leading global manufacturer of carbon fibre and speciality reinforcements, has formed a new research collaboration with the Polymer and Composite Engineering (PaCE) group based at Imperial College in London.

The project will focus on developing the technology of short and long fibre composites in the form of a novel binding chemistry. The findings will improve the processability of carbon preforms for RTM and infusion techniques, but most importantly enhance the mechanical performance of the   finished carbon composite.

Formax’s Research and Development Team are working closely with PaCE members Professor Alexander Bismark and Dr Koon-Yang Lee. PaCE is a multidisciplinary research group, bridging the gap between chemistry, materials science, processing and engineering applications.

The recent collaboration with PaCE is possible as a result of Formax obtaining two funding streams from Imperial College - the Knowledge Transfer Secondment (KTS) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

“We are immensely proud to be affiliated with such an accredited research group at Imperial College. By working closely with the PaCE team, Formax will continue to pursue and deliver high quality and innovative bespoke reinforcements,”, commented Oliver Wessely, Managing Director of Formax.

Formax has invested heavily in state of the art machinery, utilising predominantly Karl Mayer multiaxial machines, but also a number of bespoke manufactured machines for specific applications.

Technologies available at Formax are:

• 50" and 100'' multiaxial machines, offering biaxial (+/-45 & 0/90), triaxial (0/-45/+45 & -45/90/+45) and quadaxial (0/-45/90/+45) fabrics with an ability to offer on-line CSM
• 50" and 100" biaxial machines offer 0/90 biaxials, with multiple layers of CSM, CFM, or other core materials
• 50" and 60" carbon multiaxials, offering in-line tow-spreading to enable the manufacture of lightweight carbon materials
• Woven and non-woven unidirectional machines - manufacturing UD's and UD tapes in carbon and glass
• Cutting facilities enable FORMAX to offer kits cut to width and length. Tapes can be cut either on-line or off-line, to most widths and any length
• Powder binding, heat-setting and laminating enables FORMAX to offer fabrics with a variety of finishes, including bonded veils, and material ready for preforming
• Fabric inspection and re-rolling