HOLLINEE AND AVTEC JOINTLY INTRODUCE NEW FIRE-RESISTANT GLASS FIBER SURFACING MAT FOR PULTRUSION AND LIQUID MOLDING PROCESSES

HOLLINEE AND AVTEC JOINTLY INTRODUCE NEW FIRE-RESISTANT GLASS FIBER SURFACING MAT FOR PULTRUSION AND LIQUID MOLDING PROCESSES

September 25, 2002 – At the Composites Fabricators Association CFA (soon to be ACMA) Composites 2002 exhibition in Atlanta in late September, Hollinee Glass Fibers and Avtec Industries introduced a new (technology patent pending) surfacing mat impregnated with material that enhances fire resistance, as well as smoke and toxicity control. They said that the response at CFA was “almost overwhelming” and they have been “buried in sample requests.”

As an example, the FR Surmat™ pultrudable, .020-inch (20 mil) thick mat to 72-inch width is impregnated with Avtec’s TSWB™ intumescent filler on one side (patented technology), so that the glass fiber side of the mat product may be placed against the pultrusion die to optimize processing and surface finish. By having the intumescent impregnant on the side placed away from the tool during processing, fire-resistance is focused near the surface of the part, reducing the need for using fire-retardant resins or aluminum trihydrate filler throughout the part. Thus, the materials structural performance and surface properties of the laminate are not degraded by including filler or flame retardants throughout the part thickness. This allows the parts maker the option of tailoring fire performance better or differently than in the past.