Issue 15/2021 - Carbon fiber reinforced prepreg sheet cures in 30 seconds

Recently, NEDO, Japan's new energy industry technology comprehensive development organization, announced that it has developed a carbon fiber reinforced prepreg sheet that can cure in 30 seconds, which is currently the shortest time in the world and can be stored
at room temperature.

In the process of project development, DIC Co.
, Ltd.
developed "high-speed curing resin" using its polymer design technology, Seiren Co.
, Ltd.
developed "high-precision impregnation technology" using resin film forming and coating technology, and Fukui Prefectural Industrial Technology Center developed "air fiber spreading technology" for rapid thinning of fiber bundles, which has the following advantages: First, carbon fiber reinforced prepreg sheet achieves a curing time of as little as 30 seconds, reaching the world's fastest level; The second is to greatly reduce the process cycle, and the molding time is 1/3~1/6 of ordinary epoxy resin-based products, reducing production costs; Third, the general epoxy-based prepreg needs to be stored in freezing/refrigerated warehouses, but the fast-curing prepreg developed this time can be stored at room temperature, reducing the burden of
storage equipment and management.

From July 2021, NEDO will begin providing sheet samples
using demonstration lines running at Seiren.
In the future, NEDO will carry out mass production of prepreg sheets on this demonstration line, continue to provide customers with trial samples, and promote the commercialization of prepreg sheets in automotive and other fields by improving productivity
.