Technical Fibre Products (TFP) will be exhibiting several innovative nonwoven developments at CAMX, the composites and advanced materials expo, which is being held in Anaheim, California from 27-29 September.

The first innovation is a nano-functionalized nonwoven, which has been created on TFP’s commercial nanocoating line in Schenectady, NY. The incorporation of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes or nanofibers into or onto a nonwoven can provide multiple benefits including enhancement of surface conductivity, EMI shielding, thermal management and structural properties. Nanocoating is a new capability for TFP and the team at the show will be delighted to discuss this exciting new technology with interested parties.

TFP will also be exhibiting their novel Tecnofire nonwovens, which provide composites with built in fire protection. Fabricated from high temperature resistant fibres these resin-infusible materials are incorporated at the surface of a composite, imparting fire protection where it is needed.

Activated by high temperatures, Tecnofire expands and protects the underlying structure from fire. According to the company, the advantage to these innovative nonwovens is an improvement in the fire smoke toxicity (FST) of the composite, without the structural compromises or time consuming application associated with alternative technologies.

A new development in this range is a Tecnofire grade which can be activated on demand, without heat. The intumescent mat has been designed for use in a remotely activated fire protection system and, due to the presence of the conductive fibres, has the added benefit of acting as an EMI shield.

Another recent development on display will be TFP’s extended range of high performance veils made from thermoplastic fibres; including polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), polyether imide (PEI), Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyamide and polyimide. These very lightweight materials are designed for use in carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) as enhancing interleaves. It has been demonstrated, TFP says, that they can significantly improve mode-I and mode-II fracture toughness, by up to 160% and 430% respectively, whilst adding minimum weight to the final composite part.

Visitors to the show can also find out more about the many solutions for composites that TFP's novel multifunctional nonwoven materials provide. These include delivering a high quality surface finish, imparting functionality such as EMI shielding, conductivity and abrasion resistance, as well as providing an effective adhesive carrier, resin flow medium or galvanic corrosion barrier.

Technical Fibre Products (TFP) is a leading nonwoven manufacturer, offering a broad choice of high quality, technically advanced nonwovens for an array of challenging applications across industries ranging from aerospace and defense to automotive, energy, industrial, construction and healthcare. TFP is part of James Cropper PLC and continues the group's 170-year tradition of building highly effective collaborative relationships with customers, enabling the development of custom material solutions to meet unique performance, process and aesthetic requirements.

www.tfpglobal.com