Oxeon, a market leader in Spread Tow reinforcements, has developed a new and improved version of its TeXtreme Spread Tow carbon fibre fabric with increased damage performance that is said to outperform currently used carbon fibre reinforcements in several key categories.

“We invest a lot of time and effort into understanding this type of material in depth, and in the process we have collected an extensive amount of unique data on Spread Tow fabrics,” said Henrik Blycker, CEO of Oxeon, the makers of TeXtreme.

“This knowledge we’ve acquired through research projects and working closely as partners with our customers is what sets us apart in making world-class products that improve performance. With our offerings including FEA analysis, lay-up optimization and manufacturing support, this serves as a guarantee of high quality.”

Extensive testing

Damage assessments of composites in the aerospace industry are more demanding than ever, and simulation of impact damage and damage growth has become increasingly important given the high cost of testing manufactured parts. Thus, the use of reliable simulation models is essential considering the expense of the materials used in this industry.

Due in part to its interest in TeXtreme Spread Tow reinforcements’ outstanding performance using ultra-thin plies, the European Air TN DAMTEX project developed analytical and FE models to predict impact damage and damage propagation in thin woven composites.

Extensive testing has been performed to feed and validate the material models through characterization of fibre failure, delamination and residual strength following an impact event in a drop tower test.

Improved damage performance

As a result of further testing on these novel materials, a new TeXtreme variant with improved damage performance was developed. Test results from this new material are said to demonstrate improved interlaminar strength, limited damage and excellent CAI results that outperform the current standards in carbon fibre reinforcements, according to the company.

The TeXtreme range of products will be showcased at the TeXtreme booth during the upcoming JEC World show that takes place from 8-10 March in Paris. The TeXtreme team at the show will include segment specialists, technical engineers and marketing experts.

TeXtreme

TeXtreme Technology is flexible and tow-size independent, which enables the development of optimized reinforcement solutions tailor-made for specific application needs.

Utilization of TeXtreme Spread Tow carbon fabrics and carbon UD tapes by manufacturers of advanced aerospace, industrial and sports products is said to confirm that 20-30% lighter composite parts can be produced with improved mechanical properties and superior surface smoothness, the company reports.

TeXtreme has over ten years of experience in manufacturing and testing real-world applications of Spread Tow reinforcement technology. The company’s flexible production capabilities and access to a variety of markets is said to provide for a rapid delivery of tailor-made fabrics to customers, and reduced time-to-market for their products, according to the manufacturer.

www.textreme.com