Unit 4
The Reservation
Sleaford Enterprise Park
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 7BY
www.shdcomposites.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1529 307629
sales@shdcomposites.com
SHD/MISC/945 Issue: 1 21
st
June 2022
Revised: 04
th
August 2022 Uncontrolled copy when printed
VTC401
Epoxy Component Prepreg
Introduction
VTC401 is an epoxy resin system designed to give an initial cure at low temperatures or snap cure at high
temperatures with enhanced toughness, honeycomb bondability and higher service temperature, giving
greater flexibility in component manufacture. It can be supplied on a variety of fabrics in UD format to meet
your cost and manufacturing requirements.
Typical applications: General purpose Visual
Available variants VTC401B, black pigmented
VTC401LV, high tack
Key Features & Benefits
Cure temperature from 65 C to 120 C
Service temperature up to 120 C
Low CTE and shrinkage
Work life at 20 C: 21 days
Storage life at -18 C: 12 months
Very low VOC content no added solvents during manufacture
Snap cure available for hot press moulding consult SHD for details
Storage & Out Life
This material should be kept frozen at -18 C. It must be kept sealed in a polythene bag which must not be
opened until fully thawed to room temperature. If the material is not fully used, then the material must be
resealed in the polythene bag to prevent moisture absorption.
Unit 4
The Reservation
Sleaford Enterprise Park
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 7BY
www.shdcomposites.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1529 307629
sales@shdcomposites.com
SHD/MISC/945 Issue: 1 21
st
June 2022
Revised: 04
th
August 2022 Uncontrolled copy when printed
Cure Cycles & performances
CURE CYCLE OPTIONS:
Temperature Duration Tg
65 C (minimum) 16 hours 75 C
80 C 4 hours 90 C
100 C 1 hour 110 C
120 C (maximum) 45 minutes 130 C
Curing Schedule is meant to be a guide only and is subject to local conditions.
To avoid exotherm particular care must be taken with thick laminates.
Ramp rates must not exceed 3.0 C per minute during initial cure.
Ramp rates must not exceed 0.3 C per minute during post cure (free standing).
Typical Tg:
DMA Dry Tg
120 C for 1hr
Tg E Onset
Tg Peak Tan
130
139
C
C
Modified ASTM D7028
(Single Cantilever)
Tests performed on VTC401-G280T-42%RW-1250 laminates
Unit 4
The Reservation
Sleaford Enterprise Park
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 7BY
www.shdcomposites.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1529 307629
sales@shdcomposites.com
SHD/MISC/945 Issue: 1 21
st
June 2022
Revised: 04
th
August 2022 Uncontrolled copy when printed
Cured Material Properties
Tests performed on VTC401-C245T-HS-3K-42%RW laminates (245gsm 2×2 twill, T300 3k carbon fabric)
Test Results Standard
Vf
Fibre volume fraction 48.84 % BS EN ISO 14127
Method B
CPT
Cured ply thickness 0.285 mm BS EN ISO 14127
Method B
Tensile 0
Tensile 90
Tensile strength
Tensile modulus
Tensile strength
Tensile modulus
634
55.7
638
55.1
MPa
GPa
MPa
GPa
BS EN ISO 527-4
Compressive 0
Compressive 90
Compressive strength
Compressive strength
684
598
MPa
MPa
prEN 2850 Type B
Flexural 0
Flexural 90
Flexural strength
Flexural modulus
Flexural strength
Flexural modulus
873
51.2
854
49.4
MPa
GPa
MPa
GPa
BS EN ISO 14125
In-Plane Shear 45
In-Plane shear strength (ultimate)
121.6 MPa BS EN ISO 14129
Interlaminar Shear 0
Interlaminar Shear 90
Interlaminar shear strength
Interlaminar shear strength
71.3
72.2
MPa
MPa
BS EN ISO 14130
DMA Dry Tg
Initial cure
Tg E Onset
Tg Peak Tan
123
134
C
C
Modified ASTM D7028
(Single Cantilever)
Mechanical testing carried out at 21 2 C. Initial cure: 10mins at 80 C followed by 45mins at 120 C, autoclave 6bar. All figures in this report are actual test results
and have not been normalised. Testing was either completed by SHD Composites laboratories, or independently by UKAS approved organisations. Complete test
reports can be supplied independently upon request.
Unit 4
The Reservation
Sleaford Enterprise Park
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 7BY
www.shdcomposites.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1529 307629
sales@shdcomposites.com
SHD/MISC/945 Issue: 1 21
st
June 2022
Revised: 04
th
August 2022 Uncontrolled copy when printed
Viscosity Profile
Testing carried out using a rotational rheometer.
Health and Safety
This material contains epoxy resin which can cause allergic reactions with skin contact and must avoid
repeated and prolonged skin contact.
Please refer to the product Safety Data Sheet before using this material. The following precautions must be
taken when using epoxy resin prepregs:
Overalls must be worn.
Impervious gloves must be worn.
Curing schedule is meant to be as a guide only and is subject to local conditions.
To avoid exotherm, particular care must be taken with thick laminates.
Ramp rates must not exceed 3.0 C/min during initial cure and 0.3 C/min during post cure.
Disclaimer: Technical advice, instruction, data or recommendation, whether verbal or in writing, is given in good faith. The SHD company providing any such
advice gives no warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied, in relation to such advice.
Customers must carry out their own tests and assessments as necessary in order to determine the quality and suitability of the product for their particular
application and circumstances. Such testing should be performed under conditions identical to those to which the final component/product may be subjected.
Values listed in any SHD document are for typical properties of the product or substance in question and are not intended to be used in establishing either
statistical specifications nor engineering basis values. They do not constitute either minimum or maximum values for the product or substance in question.