By combining several polymer types together, hybrid thermosets can be produced which allows us to provide boards with very specific, customisable properties.
Our standard board in this range is Halo-S, which is available as 1490mm long, 500mm wide and 50mm to 150mm thick. The board is particularly suited to the automotive and aerospace industries where high temperature stability and very low coefficient of expansion are required.
Customisable – Optimised properties can easily be achieved, particularly in terms of mechanical performance, Tg and Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE).
Prepregs – Vegetable-based, hybrid boards are suitable for use with epoxy prepregs. These boards can be treated in an identical manner to epoxy boards. However, it is important to recognise that our Halo-Seal product must be used for sealing purposes.
Superior Finish – An extremely smooth surface finish with excellent machinability and low dust generation. Care has also been taken to ensure that wear to cutting/milling tools is minimised.
An example of how Halo-S tooling board is currently used in today’s composite industry is shown below. In addition to standard epoxy prepreg methods, Halo-S boards can be used for direct tooling applications, such as that shown in the case of the customised Aston Martin Vanquish (CALLUM).
This is a prime example of how 21st Century chemicals can be successfully combined to provide high-performance material properties whilst significantly reducing the use of petrochemical-based polymers.
To download the technical information & safety data sheet for Halo-S, please complete the form below:
Halo-S boards are manufactured from polymers with high resistance to elevated temperatures. Most are derived from a mixture of bio-carbon and recycled plastic based polymers resulting in an optimised thermoset material for high-performance applications.
By using a mixture of polymers, a hybrid structure is obtained. By varying the relative amounts of each polymer, specific properties can be obtained. In principle, this is very similar to the commonly used plastic, ABS (Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, Styrene). This plastic took over from polystyrene as an improved, low-cost plastic for vacuum-forming applications and has become very successful. Acrylonitrile provides chemical resistance and improved heat-resistance, butadiene provides improved toughness (especially at low temperatures) and styrene gives a high-gloss impervious surface to the plastic. The development of hybrid structures, derived from bio-carbon based materials, has opened up a whole new range of possibilities in both the thermoplastic and thermoset areas of organic chemistry.
Standard polyurethane boards have a very important role to play in the composites industry. They have good mechanical properties, are easy to fabricate, are available in a large range of densities and are available at a relatively low cost. However, they are limited in their resistance to high temperatures. In addition, they can exhibit an inhibiting effect on the curing properties of epoxy resin prepregs. Halo-S boards, on the other hand, have excellent mechanical properties, good resistance to high temperatures, can be available in a large range of densities and do not inhibit epoxy curing mechanisms. They are manufactured from bio-based and recycled plastic ingredients. In addition, both boards provide a superior, smooth surface finish and low dust formation.
The cost of boards is totally dependent on the specific specification of the board. In general terms, Halo boards at comparable densities are priced between conventional polyurethane and epoxy boards.
The Halo-S boards are very similar to our well-known Halo products, the essential difference being the use of low GWP chemicals and processes when manufacturing Halo-S boards.
The recycled plastic is actually converted to a clear, viscous liquid before being processed. The resin that is used to manufacture the Halo-S grades consists of perfectly miscible liquids obtained from a state-of-the-art refining process. When used in combination with optimised processing aids, a high quality, fine-textured board is produced.
Yes, we already have several unique products at pre-production stage, ready to be introduced to our customers/partners for evaluation. We shall shortly be introducing these new grades for general sale. In addition, we shall be marketing several liquid moulding/fast-cast grades based on the use of recycled plastics in combination with bio-resins.
Twenty years ago, that would have been absolutely correct as many bio-materials were based on simple triglyceride chemistry. However, this is no longer the case. We now have a wide variety of bio-carbon based materials at our disposal and we aim to constantly update and upgrade all products as further advances are made.
If you have any further questions, please contact us. We’ll be happy to provide further insight into this important and dynamic bio-content optimisation programme.
