Full General Datasheet
PDS-SE140-02-0824 1
Optimised prepreg for
compression moulding and
autoclave cure
Flow-controlled resin for
improved surface finish
Tinted black resin version
avaible
Enhanced UV stable version
avaible
20 minute cure at 130-135 C
(266-275 F)
Can also be cured with
vacuum bag. Six hours at
80 C (176 F)
Toughened for improved
mechanical properties
SE 140
140 Tg Epoxy Prepreg System
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.
The SE140 UV variant uses UV blockers to reduced resin yellowing from the
sun and environmental conditions.
The SE140 BL variant has a low level of black pigment to darken the colour
of resin yet still allow the fabric weave to be visible.
This document covers the properties for all variants.
PDS-SE140-02-0824 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 resin is a clear resin and has no fillers, which helps to maintain good resin clarity for cosmetic applications. The resin will exhibit
good UV and environmental weathering protection. However, like all epoxy resin prepregs over time the resin will gradually become more
yellow on exposure to UV light, so a protective clear coat lacquer is recommended to help protect the final component surface.
When manufacturing high quality cosmetic carbon components, it is recommended that a high consolidation pressure is used during cure
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.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
AVAILABILITY
SE 140 is available in unidirectional carbon formats ranging in weight from 110 to 600g/m
2
, also woven or multiaxial reinforcements in
carbon or glass from 100-660g/m
2
.
PDS-SE140-02-0824 3
PREPREG PROPERTIES
RHEOLOGY DATA
PROPERTY UNITS VALUE
Minimum Visco sity Pa.s (P) 1.4 (14)
Temp erature at minimum visco sity C ( F) 92 (198)
TRANSPORT AND STORAGE
STORAGE TEMPERATURE UNITS VALUE
-18 C (0 F) mo nths 12
+18-20 C (64-68 F) weeks 4
To maximise the de-frosted shelf life of the material it is beneficial to maintain a cool working environment. When not in use SE140 products
should be maintained at -18 C (0 F).
TYPICAL CURE TIME AND TEMPERATURES
SE 140 Prepreg offers flexible curing options and can be cured via autoclave, pressure bladder and press cure methods. Vacuum curing
is also possible.
AUTOCLAVE AND VACUUM PROCESSING CURE
Typical cure schedules for SE140, SE140 BL and SE140 UV
PROPERTY 80 C CURE (158 C) 120 C CURE (176 C) 130 C CURE (248 C) TEST METHOD
Processing method Vacuum Bag/Autoclave Vacuum Bag/Autoclave Vacuum Bag/Autoclave
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
Tg (DMA) 85-90 C (185-194 F) 125-130 C (257-266 F) 135-140 C (275-284 F) 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.
1.0
10.0
100.0
1000.0
10000.0
100000.0
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100110
COMPLEX VISCOSITY (Pa .s)
TEMPERATURE C
PDS-SE140-02-0824 4
The table below is a guide of flow and cure vs. temperature when using a hot in-hot out press process.
PROPERTY 125 C CURE (257 F) 130 C CURE (266 F) 135 C CURE (275 F)
Flo w Time 2:54 2:03 1:21
Cure Co nversio n( 90%) Mins:Seco nd s 18:30 9:15 6:30
Cure Co nversio n( 95%) Mins:Seco nd s – 17:45 9:15
Cure Co nversio n( 97.5%) Mins:Seco nd s — 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. PREPREG PROPERTIES SE140/RC245T/42% (Values for SE140 BL & SE140 UV are the same) . PROPERTY SYMBOL UNITS RC245T/42% TEST METHOD Resin System - SE140 - Fab ric Style - 0/90 Woven 2x2 Twill - Fab ric Areal Weig ht FAW - 245 ASTM D3171 Typ ical Fib re Leng th L f ibre m Continuous - Typ ical Fib re Density f ibre Kg/m 1800 - Typ ical Resin Density resin Kg/m 1200 - Fib re Mo d ulus E f ibre GPa 227-257 Resin Co ntent RC % 42 ASTM D3171 Metho d II No minal Prep reg Areal Weig ht PAW g/m 422 ASTM D3171 Metho d II No minal Cured Ply Thickness t CPT mm 0.28 ASTM D792 No minal Fib re Vo lume t % 42 ASTM D3171 Metho d II No minal Cured Density Lamiant e Kg /m 1488 ASTM D3171 Metho d II PDS-SE140-02-0824 5 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, High Pressure Cure, 12Bar pressure, cure 10 minutes at 130-135 C (266 F to 275 F). SE140 BL & SE140 UV variants will achieve the same properties. PROPERTY SYMBOL UNITS SE140/RC245T TEST METHOD 0 Tensile Streng th* T11 MPa (ksi) 645 (93.6) ISO527-4 0 Tensile Mo d ulus* Et11 GPa (Msi) 65.3 (9.50) ISO527-4 Po isso ns Ratio 12 - - 0.05 (0.10) ISO527-4 90 Tensile Streng th* T22 MPa (ksi) 657 (95.2) ISO527-4 90 Tensile Mo d ulus* ET22 GPa (Msi) 64.6 (9.40) ISO527-4 Po isso ns Ratio 21 - - 0.05 (0.10) ISO527-4 0 Co mp ressio n Streng th C11 MPa (ksi) 723 (105) SACMA SRM1-94 0 Co mp ressio n Mo d ulus Ec11 GPa (Msi) 61.0 (8.80) SACMA SRM1-94 90 Co mp ressio n Streng th C22 MPa (ksi) 720 (104) SACMA SRM1-94 90 Co mp ressio n Mo d ulus EC22 GPa (Msi) 60.5 (8.80) SACMA SRM1-94 0 Flexural Streng th F MPa (ksi) 935 (136) ISO 14125 0 Flexural Mo d ulus EF11 GPa (Msi) 54.7 (7.90) ISO 14125 90 Flexural Streng th F MPa (ksi) 900 (131) ISO 14125 90 Flexural Mo d ulus EF11 GPa (Msi) 55.3 (8.00) ISO 14125 0 ILSS ILSS MPa (ksi) 74.3 (10.8) ISO 14130 Glass Transitio n Tg1 DMA Tg1 C ( F) 141 (287) ISO14125 * Normalised to 60% Vf SE140 / RC245T Woven Carbon, Low pressure cure, Vacuum bag pressure, Cure 2 C/min to 130 C (266 F), 130 C (266 F) dwell for 20min. SE140 BL & SE140 UV variants will achieve the same properties. PROPERTY SYMBOL UNITS SE140/RC245T TEST METHOD 0 Tensile Streng th* T11 MPa (ksi) 620 (89.9) ISO527-4 0 Tensile Mo d ulus* Et11 GPa (Msi) 63.8 (9.30) ISO527-4 Po isso ns Ratio 12 - - 0.05 (0.05) ISO527-4 90 Tensile Streng th* T22 MPa (ksi) 626 (90.7) ISO527-4 90 Tensile Mo d ulus* ET22 GPa (Msi) 62.8 (9.10) ISO527-4 Po isso ns Ratio 21 - - 0.05 (0.10) ISO527-4 0 Co mp ressio n Streng th* C11 MPa (ksi) 703 (102) SACMA SRM1-94 0 Co mp ressio n Mo d ulus* Ec11 GPa (Msi) 60.3 (8.70) SACMA SRM1-94 90 Co mp ressio n Streng th* C22 MPa (ksi) 680 (98.7) SACMA SRM1-94 90 Co mp ressio n Mo d ulus* EC22 GPa (Msi) 60.5 (8.80) SACMA SRM1-94 0 Flexural Streng th F MPa (ksi) 828 (120) ISO 14125 0 Flexural Mo d ulus EF11 GPa (Msi) 50.7 (7.40) ISO 14125 90 Flexural Streng th F MPa (ksi) 823 (119) ISO 14125 90 Flexural Mo d ulus EF11 GPa (Msi) 51.3 (7.40) ISO 14125 0 ILSS ILSS MPa (ksi) 75.7 (11.0) ISO 14130 Glass Transitio n Tg1 DMA Tg1 C ( F) 134 (273) ISO14125 * Normalised to 60% Vf PDS-SE140-02-0824 6 SE140 / RF300T Woven Flax fabric, Press moulded at 12Bar pressure, 135 C for 15 Minutes PROPERTY SYMBOL UNITS SE140/RC245T TEST METHOD 0 Tensile Streng th T11 MPa (ksi) 167 (24.2) ISO527-4 0 Tensile Mo d ulus Et11 GPa (Msi) 12.7 (1.80) ISO527-4 0 Co mp ressio n Streng th C11 MPa (ksi) 166 (24.0) SACMA SRM1-94 0 Co mp ressio n Mo d ulus Ec11 GPa (Msi) 12.0 (1.70) SACMA SRM1-94 0 Flexural Streng th F MPa (ksi) 166 (24.1) ISO 14125 0 Flexural Mo d ulus EF11 GPa (Msi) 12.7 (1.84) ISO 14125 0 ILSS ILSS MPa (ksi) 18.9 (2.80) ISO 14130 Glass Transitio n Tg1 DMA Tg1 C ( F) 132 (269) ISO14125 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-SE140-02-0824 7 www.gurit.com customer.support@gurit.com www.gurit.com HEALTH AND SAFETY The following points must be considered: 1. Skin contact must be avoided by wearing protective gloves. Gurit recommends the use of disposable nitrile gloves for most applications. The use of barrier creams is not recommended, but to preserve skin condition a moisturising cream should be used after washing. 2. If the skin becomes contaminated, then the area must be immediately cleansed. The use of resin-removing cleansers is recommended. To finish, wash with soap and warm water. The use of solvents on the skin to remove resins etc must be avoided. Washing should be part of routine practice: before eating or drinking before smoking & vaping before using the lavatory after finishing work 3. The inhalation of sanding dust should be avoided and if it settles on the skin then it should be washed off. After more extensive sanding operations a shower/bath and hair wash is advised. Gurit produces a separate full Safety Data Sheet for all hazardous products. Please ensure that you have the correct SDS to hand for the materials you are using before commencing work. 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. CONTACT INFORMATION Please see local contact information at www.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 All trademarks used or mentioned in this document are protected by law.