TeXtreme, a global leader in thin ply spread tow carbon fiber materials, has announced the launch of their latest innovation, TeXtreme Gapped UD, a dry carbon reinforcement material designed for resin infusion processes. It is a groundbreaking product that offers superior performance, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness for a range of applications.

TeXtreme Gapped UD is a flat, unidirectional reinforcement material that includes well-controlled 0,3 mm gaps between the fiber tows. These gaps serve as resin and air evacuation channels, allowing for fast and uniform wetting out of the material without compromising its mechanical properties. With a fiber volume fraction of over 60%, TeXtreme Gapped UD offers mechanical properties that are consistent with UD-prepreg solutions.

The TeXtreme Gapped UD material is designed to fit the format of standard AFP and ATL machines used for composite manufacturing.

In addition to providing UD-prepreg performance, TeXtreme Gapped UD offers the following benefits:

- High permeability, enabling fast wet-out over large surface areas

- A cost-effective solution that eliminates the need for cold storage and short-term considerations

- Easy handling, cutting, and preforming, leading to reduced lay-up time and less waste

Market and Applications

TeXtreme Gapped UD has been specifically designed to meet the needs of customers in the aerospace, marine, and industrial sectors who are seeking a cost-effective out-of-autoclave solution that offers the same high-performance as traditional prepreg materials.

Proof of Concept

In collaboration with GKN Aerospace, Innovatum Science Park and Produktionstekniskt Centrum, PTC (Trollhättan, Sweden) with financing support from Tillväxtverket (The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth) and Västra Götalandsregionen,in the project REACT PTC, an aerospace engine guide vane has been produced using TeXtreme Gapped UD and RTM process. The monolithic guide vane is 10 mm thick and consists of multiple layers of TeXtreme Gapped UD, achieving a fiber volume fraction of over 60%.

This guide vane will be displayed at JEC World 2023 in the TeXtreme booth.

TeXtreme Gapped UD Products

TeXtreme Gapped UD is available in a variety of sizes and fiber weights, including ¼”, ½”, 1”, 1.5”, 2”, 12”, 24”, and 50” UD formats using carbon fiber, with other fibers available upon request. The material can be supplied in fiber areal weights (FAW) from 100 gsm to 400 gsm.

The product is also available in woven 0/90 and woven +/-45 formats. The woven format is supplied in FAW from 200 to 800 gsm, in a 1-meter width.