Sumitomo Expands Epoxy, PES Offerings for Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Composites

New easier-processing epoxy, PES grades specifically developed to meet growing demand for carbon composites in aviation/aerospace

Phoenix, Ariz., U.S. — The aerospace industry is constantly searching for stiff, strong, lightweight materials that can handle rapid temperature changes, broad chemical exposure, and provide long service life with excellent fatigue resistance. Thanks to the successful launch of composites-intensive aircraft like the 787 Dreamliner from The Boeing Co. in 2011 and the A350 XWB from Airbus SE in 2015, the use of composite materials has grown significantly on commercial aircraft owing to their ability to reduce mass, lower fuel consumption and maintenance, and improve corrosion and fatigue resistance. To better support customers in the U.S. aviation/aerospace segment, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo) has developed two new grades of epoxy resin with enhanced viscosity for easier processing, as well as a new grade of a polyethersulfone (PES) additive to boost fracture toughness and microcrack resistance for carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composites.