Huntsman celebrates marine category innovation award

>Recognising the high levels of skill, quality and expertise that have gone into turning this innovation into a valuable commercial proposition, the award has been given to NTPT and partners including Huntsman, for designing the world's thinnest uni-directional prepreg and associated handling and design tools.

>The ThinPreg prepregs in question are made from carbon fibre uni-directional tapes that can be as thin as a third of a human hair. The tapes are pre-impregnated with an epoxy resin matrix system based on several components (resin, toughener and hardener) selected with Huntsman's support.

>Working with NTPT, Huntsman provided a range of specialty components and advice on the building blocks selection, taking into account the specific requirements of ultra-thin prepreg processing. Gilles Rocher, sales and marketing manager, NTPT, says: "Thanks to the excellent product recommendations and ongoing technical support received from Huntsman, we have been able to achieve our goals in applying ultra-thin prepregs to deliver the highest level of quality to a wide range of lightweight and extremely durable designs."

>NTPT's ultra-thin prepregs are designed specifically for high performance composite applications, as demonstrated by their use as ultra-light components on C-Class yachts. Ultra-thin plies offer significant improvements in the mechanical properties of composite laminates and also show outstanding machinability. Thanks to their machinable capabilities, Huntsman's comprehensive offering of materials for impregnation systems have also seen success with NTPT in the production of ultra-thin, prepreg-based components on a Richard Mille luxury watch case, which is due to be showcased at JEC Europe.

>With its track record and expertise in formulating specialty components, Huntsman is leading the way in optimising prepreg composites manufacturing processes in the delivery of lightweight designs.