General Provisional Datasheet
PDS-SE140-3-0921 1
SE 140 PREPREG
140 C TG EPOXY PREPREG SYSTEM
Optimised prepreg for compression moulding and autoclave cure
Flow-controlled resin for improved surface finish
Toughened for improved mechanical properties
20min Cure at 130-135 C (266-275 F)
INTRODUCTION
SE140 is designed for manufacture of complex composite components which are typically manufacture in the automotive, motorsport and
sporting goods sectors. The cured resin has a good balance of laminate strength, toughness and environmental performance making it a
very versatile product.SE140 is a flow controlled prepreg, which has been optimised for fast cure under high consolidation pressures but can
also be cured under vacuum pressure if required. The prepreg resin provides suitable tack to adhere to metal and composite tools but is still
easy to reposition at ambient temperatures.
PDS-SE140-3-0921 2
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
SE140 is low tack prepreg and yet still offers high drape characteristics for precision laminating. It is possible to reposition when applied
together but once pushed into place it will become difficult to separate. It will also self-adhere to a mould surface at 21 C (70 F), additional
heat can used to increase tack, but the product will be difficult to use in workshop temperatures above 23 C.
SE 140 SFP resin is a clear resin and is not filled, which help to maintain good resin clarity. However, it is not UV stable and will gradually
become more yellow on exposure to UV light, so a protective clear coat is recommended when making visual parts.
When manufacturing cosmetic carbon components, it is recommended that high consolidation pressure curing methods are used. This
will ensure no surface pinholes and give a repeatable surface finish for lacquering.
AUTOCLAVE, PRESSURE BLADDER & VACUUM BAG PROCESSING
The mould should be treated with a high temperature release agent or film prior to lay-up. Place the layers of material into the mould in
the same manner as a traditional prepreg. Overlaps are needed to ensure a continuous fibre distribution, the overlap distance should be
in region of 10-20mm.
Vacuum debulks may be needed to aid the placement of the layers, typically a 15-30 min debulking at 21 C is used. A perforated release
film and a breather mesh should be used in this operation to gain even vacuum over the part. Vacuum debulks will also reduce the amount
of surface pin holes and voiding in the cured laminate when using a vacuum only cure.
For vacuum only -1bar cures a perforated release film should be used and for autoclave where the pressure is greater than +1bar a non-
perforated release film is typically required.
PRESS PROCESSING
The press perform or charge should be made from multiple plies stacked on top of each other. Depending on part complexity preforms
can be made from either; rough shaping the material by hand, vacuum, or diaphragm forming methods. Woven and fabric preforms will
not flow during pressing and therefore need to be neat shape or larger.
The tooling used should have a closed or sealed cavity edge as the viscosity of the resin reduces during cure and needs to be contained within
the cavity. If the tooling is open on the edge a reduced consolidation pressure will be achieved and this will result in surface pin holes or dry
surface fibres. An improved surface finish can be obtained by partially closing the tool and applying a vacuum before the upper tool contacts
the prepreg. This a vacuum step will remove trapped air before the mould contacts the prepreg. The controlled flow of SE 140 makes it more
tolerant to pressing without vacuum or mould edge flow control, but generally a more repeatable surface finish is obtained with these features.
Pressing without vacuum is likely to result in a part with some minor porosity.
Typical moulding pressures are between 10-20 bar (145 290 PSI) although higher pressures are also acceptable.
PREPREG PROPERTIES
PROPERTY VALUE
Minimum Viscosity 1.4 Pa.s 14 P
Temperature at Minimum Viscosity 92 C 198 F
STORAGE TEMP UNIT VALUE
-18 C 0 F months 12
+21 C +70 F weeks 4
All prepreg materials should be stored in a freezer when not in
use to maximise their useable life, since the low temperature
reduces the reaction of resin and catalyst to virtually zero.
However, even at -18 C (0 F), the temperature of most freezers,
some reaction will still occur. In most cases after some years, the
material will become unworkable.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Please refer to product SDS for up to date information specific to
this product.
1.0
10.0
100.0
1000.0
10000.0
100000.0
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
COMPLEX VISCOSITY (Pa.s)
TEMPERATURE C
PDS-SE140-3-0921 3
MINIMUM CURE TIME & TEMPERATURE
SE 140 Prepreg offers flexible curing options and can be cured via autoclaved, pressure bladder and press cure methods. Vacuum curing
is also possible.
AUTOCLAVE & VACUUM PROCESSING CURE
Autoclave curing is possible using a 2 C /min (4 F/min) ramp to 130 C (266 F), including a dwell at 80 C for 20min will provide some additional
resin flow time and improve the surface finish and porosity. With the controlled flow of the prepreg 3 to 7 bar autoclave pressure can be applied
at the start of the cure process, or before the laminate reaches 80 C (176 F) to give parts with excellent surface finish on gloss and matt tooling.
With vacuum only curing some surface porosity can occur. Surface porosity can be reduced by reducing the ramp rate to 0.5 C /min (0.5 F/min)
and adding a dwell of at least 45min at 80 C. For painted parts surface porosity can be removed by using Gurit SF75-90 Surface film as the first
ply in the laminate stack.
PROPERTY 80 C CURE 120 C CURE 130 C CURE TEST STANDARD
Processing Method Autoclave / Vacuum Autoclave / Vacuum Autoclave / Vacuum
Typical Ramp Rate 0.3 2 C/minute 1 2 C/minute 1 2 C/minute –
Cure Time 6 hrs 45 minutes 20 minutes –
Cure Pressure -1 Bar -1 Bar / +6 Bar -1 Bar / +6 Bar –
Dry Tg (DMA) 85-90 C 125-130 C 135-140 C ASTM D7028
PRESS PROCESSING
Typically, in Prepreg Compression Moulding (PCM) processing parts are demoulded once 85% cure conversion has been achieved but to
maximise the glass transition (Tg) of the resin a longer cure is recommended, especially for flat large parts without significant shape rigidity.
The table below is a guide of flow and cure vs. temperature when using a hot in-hot out press process.
PROPERTY 125 C (302 F) 130 C (302 F) 135 C (302 F)
Flow Time / (min:ss) 2:54 2:03 1:21
Cure Conversion 90% / (min:ss) 18:30 9:15 6:30
Cure Conversion 95% / (min:ss) – 17:45 9:15
Cure Conversion 97.5% / (min:ss) – – 13:15
The tool should be shut before the recommended flow time to avoid pre-gelling or an exotherm in the prepreg. Parts < 6mm thick have been
processed without exothermic heat release problems using metal compression tooling to conduct heat away from both the A and B surfaces.
Tests may be needed to check for exothermic heat release in thicker laminates. Excessive exotherm may discolour the resin.
Recommended press process, 1) Apply the charge to a 130-135C (266 F to 275 F) tool; 2) Partial close to apply a vacuum; 3) Begin final close
1min and 30seconds after the charge first contacts the hot tool; 4) Aim to have completed the tool close by 1min and 40 seconds; 5) Open the
press and demould 15 minutes after the charge first contacts the hot tool.
Shorter cures can be achieved with a lower level of cure conversion, timings are given in the table above.
PDS-SE140-3-0921 4
PREPREG PROPERTIES
PROPERTY SYMBOL UNIT RC245T/42% STANDARD
Resin System - - SE 140 -
Prepreg Format - - Impregnated -
Fibre / Fabric Style - - 0/90 Woven 2x2 Twill -
Fabric Areal Weight FAW g/m
2
245 ASTM D 3171 Method II
Typical Fibre Length Lfibre mm Continuous -
Typical Fibre Density fibre Kg/m
3
1800 -
Typical Resin Density resin Kg/m
3
1200 -
Fibre Modulus Efibre GPa 227 257 -
Resin Content RC % 42 ASTM D 3171 Method II
Nominal Prepreg Areal
weight
PAW g/m
2
422 ASTM D 3171 Method II
Nominal Cured Ply Thickness tCPT mm 0.28 ASTM D792
Nominal Fibre Volume
Fraction
t % 48 ASTM D 3171 Method II
Nominal Cured Density Lamiante Kg/m
3
1488 ASTM D 3171 Method II
CURED LAMINATE PROPERTIES
Average properties were taken in the roll (0 ) and across roll (90 ) directions with cured laminate thickness of 2.0 2.5mm
SE140 / RC245T Compression moulded at 12Bar pressure, cure 10 minutes at 130-135 C (266 F to 275 F).
PROPERTY SYMBOL N
FVF RESULTS (METRIC) RESULTS (US)
% MEAN UNIT STANDARD MEAN UNIT
STANDARD
0 Tensile Strength* T11 7 52.3% 645.3 MPa ISO 527-4 93.6 ksi ASTM D3039
0 Tensile Modulus* Et11 8 52.3% 65.3 GPa ISO 527-4 9.5 msi ASTM D3039
Poission s Ratio 12 8 52.3% 0.06 - 0.06 -
90 Tensile Strength* T22 8 52.9% 656.5 MPa ISO 527-4 95.2 ksi ASTM D3039
90 Tensile Modulus* ET22 8 52.9% 64.6 GPa ISO 527-4 9.4 msi ASTM D3039
Poission s Ratio 21 8 52.9% 0.05 ISO 527-4 0.1 - ASTM D3039
0 Comp. Strength* C11 12 52.1% 723.1 MPa SACMA SRM1 104.9 ksi ASTM D695
0 Comp. Modulus* Ec11 10 51.7% 61.0 GPa SACMA SRM1 8.8 msi ASTM D695
90 Comp. Strength* C22 12 53.6% 720.0 MPa SACMA SRM1 104.4 ksi ASTM D695
90 Comp. Modulus* EC22 10 52.5% 60.5 GPa SACMA SRM1 8.8 msi ASTM D695
0 Flexural Strength F 10 52.6% 934.8 MPa ISO 14125 135.6 ksi ASTM D790
0 Flexural Modulus EF11 10 52.6% 54.7 GPa ISO 14125 7.9 msi ASTM D790
90 Flexural Strength F 10 52.8% 900.2 MPa ISO 14125 130.6 ksi ASTM D790
90 Flexural Modulus EF11 10 52.8% 55.3 GPa ISO 14125 8.0 msi ASTM D790
0 ILSS (MPa) ILSS 10 52.7% 74.3 MPa ISO 14130 10.8 ksi ASTM D2344
Glass Transition Tg1 DMA Tg1 1 52.8 141
o
C ISO 6721 287 F ASTM 7028
PDS-SE140-3-0921 5
SE140 / RC245T Woven Carbon, Vacuum Cure using cure of 2 C/min to 130 C (266 F), 130 C (266 F) dwell for 20min.
PROPERTY SYMBOL N
FVF RESULTS (METRIC) RESULTS (US)
% MEAN UNIT STANDARD MEAN UNIT
STANDARD
0 Tensile Strength* T11 8 48.8% 619.8 MPa ISO 527-4 89.9 ksi ASTM D3039
0 Tensile Modulus* Et11 8 48.8% 63.8 GPa ISO 527-4 9.3 msi ASTM D3039
Poission s Ratio 12 8 48.8% 0.05 - 0.05 -
90 Tensile Strength* T22 7 48.5% 625.6 MPa ISO 527-4 90.7 ksi ASTM D3039
90 Tensile Modulus* ET22 7 48.5% 62.8 GPa ISO 527-4 9.1 msi ASTM D3039
Poission s Ratio 21 8 48.5% 0.05 ISO 527-4 0.1 - ASTM D3039
0 Comp. Strength* C11 10 47.0% 702.6 MPa SACMA SRM1 101.9 ksi ASTM D695
0 Comp. Modulus* Ec11 10 49.1% 60.3 GPa SACMA SRM1 8.7 msi ASTM D695
90 Comp. Strength* C22 10 46.7% 680.4 MPa SACMA SRM1 98.7 ksi ASTM D695
90 Comp. Modulus* EC22 10 48.9% 60.5 GPa SACMA SRM1 8.8 msi ASTM D695
0 Flexural Strength F 10 49.1% 828.4 MPa ISO 14125 120.2 ksi ASTM D790
0 Flexural Modulus EF11 10 49.1% 50.7 GPa ISO 14125 7.4 msi ASTM D790
90 Flexural Strength F 10 48.4% 822.6 MPa ISO 14125 119.3 ksi ASTM D790
90 Flexural Modulus EF11 10 48.4% 51.3 GPa ISO 14125 7.4 msi ASTM D790
0 ILSS (MPa) ILSS 10 48.3% 75.7 MPa ISO 14130 11.0 ksi ASTM D2344
Glass Transition Tg1 DMA Tg1 1 48.3% 134
o
C ISO 6721 273 F ASTM 7028
* Normalised to 55% Vf. Laminate fibre volume fraction calculated using fibre areal weight and assumed fibre density of 1800Kg/m
3
and normalised as per
ASTM D
3171 Method II. Data is only normalised where appropriate. Future testing is not guaranteed to give exactly the same values. Engineers should account for variability
when choosing their design allowable properties
SE140 / RF300T Woven Flax fabric, Press moulded at 12Bar pressure, 135 C for 15 Minutes
PROPERTY SYMBOL N
FVF RESULTS (METRIC) RESULTS (US)
% MEAN UNIT STANDARD MEAN UNIT
STANDARD
0 Tensile Strength T11 6 45.7% 166.6 MPa ISO 527-4 24.2 ksi ASTM D3039
0 Tensile Modulus Et11 6 45.7% 12.7 GPa ISO 527-4 1.8 msi ASTM D3039
0 Comp. Strength C11 6 43.7% 165.9 MPa SACMA SRM1 24.0 ksi ASTM D695
0 Comp. Modulus Ec11 6 43.1% 12.00 GPa SACMA SRM1 1.7 msi ASTM D695
0 Flexural Strength F 6 42.5% 166.0 MPa ISO 14125 24.1 ksi ASTM D790
0 Flexural Modulus EF11 6 42.5% 12.7 GPa ISO 14125 1.84 msi ASTM D790
0 ILSS (MPa) ILSS 6 43.3% 18.9 MPa ISO 14130 2.8 ksi ASTM D2344
Glass Transition Tg1 DMA Tg1 1 N/A 132
o
C ISO 6721 269 F ASTM 7028
Test data has not been normalised by fibre volume fraction. Future testing is not guaranteed to give exactly the same values. Engineers should account for
variability when choosing their design allowable properties
PDS-SE140-3-0921 6
NOTICE
All advice, instruction or recommendation is given in good faith but the selling Gurit entity
(the Company) only warrants that advice in writing is given with reasonable skill and care.
No further duty or responsibility is accepted by the Company. All advice is given subject
to the terms and conditions of sale (the Conditions) which are available on request from
the Company or may be viewed at Gurit s Website: www.gurit.com/terms -and-
conditions.aspx
The Company strongly recommends that Customers make test panels in the final process
conditions and conduct appropriate testing of any goods or materials supplied by the
Company prior to final use to ensure that they are suitable for the Customer s planned
application. Such testing should include testing under conditions as close as possible to
those to which the final component may be subjected. The Company specifically excludes
any warranty of fitness for purpose of the goods other than as set out in writing by the
Company. Due to the varied nature of end-use applications, the Company does, in
particular, not warrant that the test panels in the final process conditions and/or the final
component pass any fire standards.
The Company reserves the right to change specifications and prices without notice and
Customers should satisfy themselves that information relied on by the Customer is that
which is currently published by the Company on its website. Any queries may be
addressed to the Technical Services Department.
Gurit is continuously reviewing and updating literature. Please ensure that you have the
current version by contacting your sales contact and quoting the revision number in the
bottom left-hand corner of this page.
TECHNICAL CONTACT INFORMATION
For all other enquiries such as technical queries:
Telephone + 44 1983 828000 (08:30 17:00 GMT)
Email technical.support@gurit.com
24-HOUR CHEMICAL EMERGENCY NUMBER
For advice on chemical emergencies, spillages, fires or exposures:
Europe +44 1273 289451
Americas +1 646 844 7309
APAC +65 3158 1412
E customer.support@gurit.com
W www.gurit.com