Technical Textiles Executive

Aerospace - Superior fibre distribution of Optimat 201 makes it the ideal material for surface finishing for interiors. Use of Optimat 201 can result in weight and cost saving by reducing paint and resin content and by eliminating the need to grind or polish. Optimat 201 is used to prevent galvanic corrosion by separating dissimilar conductive materials eg aluminium/carbon fibre.

Defence - Optimat 201 blended with precise amounts of conductive fibre is used to reduce radar cross section in marine, land vehicle and aircraft applications.

Recreational - Used as a surface layer giving a smooth finish combined with improved impact and wear resistance.

Commercial - Optimat 201 with chemically resistant "C" glass is used as a surfacing layer to improve the corrosion resistance of vessels and pipework for the chemicals industry. Optimat 201 imparts superior wear resistance to the surface of high speed industrial rolls, and is used in printing, textiles and papermaking. When blended with conductive fibres Optiat 201 provides protection from surface static discharge and is used for resistive heating applications. Optimat 201 is used to produce a high quality resin rich surface layer without the use of a gel coat.

Aerospace - Superior fibre distribution of Optimat 202 makes it the ideal material for thin film adhesive carriers. Because of it's electrical transparency Optimat 202 is used as a surfacing layer for Radomes

Defence - Optimat 202, blended with precise amounts of conductive fibre is used to reduce radar cross section in marine, land vehicle and aircraft applications.

Recreational - Optimate 202 is used as a surface layer giving a smooth finish combined with improved impact and wear resistance, the improved drape of the polyester fibre allows its use on complex shapes where glass surface veils would crease or wrinkle. The opacity and whiteness of Optimat 202 make it a suitable base for screen printing which permits the incorporation of special effects or written message in the body of the composite.

Commercial - Optimat 202 has good resistance to acids and better drape than glass. Optimat 202 is used to replace glass chopped strand in applications where a flexible laminate is preferred. Optimat 202 in tape form is used as an outer wrap on filament wound pipes and tanks.

Pultrusion - Optimat 202 is used as a surfacing veil in the pultrusion process to give high quality resin rich surface, elimate the incidence of fibre prominence and reduce pulling forces and die wear. Blended with carbon Optimat 202 provides surface static protection to pultruded profiles.

Coloured Polyester - Optimat 202 in coloured form is used to give even surface colour, reduced pigment usage, improved resistance to UV discolouration and weathering, batch to batch colour reproducibility, rapid colour changes in continuous processes and inbuilt colour coding of components.

Chemical Vessels and Pipework - Used as a surface veil for electrical grounding and improved corrosion resistance. Optimat 203 is used as a conductive layer for "spark testing" of tank liners.

SMC - Heavier grades of Optimat 203 are prepregged and used to produce compression moulded parts. Advantages over glass based SMC include increased strength and stiffness, lighter weight, inherent electrical and thermal conductivity for EMI/RFI shielding, electrostatic painting and thermal management. Heavy weight mats can also be used to produce preforms for subsequent transformation to carbon-carbon and carbon-ceramic composites.

Electronics - Used to provide EMI/RFI shielding for enclosures, static protection in assembly areas and as a reflective layer in satelite dishes.

Fuel Cells - Chemical resistance in combination with electrical conductivity makes Optimat 203 an ideal material for the construction of fuel cell electrode assemblies.

Sports Goods - Used to improve strength, stiffness and surface finish in a variety of sports goods.

Pultrusion - The use of Optimat 203 as the outer surface layer on unidirectional pultrusions increases hoop strength and improves surface finish. Optimat 203 can be supplied in narrow coils to suit pultrusion applications.

Aerospace - Used to provide areas of very high conductivity and may be used for lightning strike protection, as an EMI/RFI shield for the protection of avionics or as a heating element for de-icing applications.

Automotive - Can be used in composite bulkheads and body panels to provide EMI/RFI shielding.

Architecture - Used to provide protection from electronic surveillance in secure buildings or rooms. When incorporated in composite cladding Optimat 204 can be used as a resistive heating layer to prevent the dangers associated with icing.

Recreational - Used as a surface layer giving a smooth finish combined with an attractive metallic sheen.

Commercial - Used whenever high levels of electrical conductivity are desired, its low basis weight and excellent fibre dispersion find applications in conductive tapes, electrical connectors and bench mats. For resistive heating applications the uniformity of fibre distribution eliminates hot spots especially at connector points and the high conductivity combined with low mass of the veil produces a heating element with extremely low thermal inertia.

AerospaceSuperior fibre distribution makes Optimat 206 the ideal material for thin film adhesive carriers.

Automotive - Used to improve impact resistance and to protect the surface finish of composite panels from damage by stones

Defence - Blended with precise amounts of conductive fibre Optimat 206 is used to reduce radar cross section in marine, land vehicle and aircraft applications.

Recreation - Used as a surface layer giving a smooth finish combined with improved impact and wear resistance particularly in skis, snow and surf boards and competition kayaks.

Commercial - An excellent substrate for friction products where it is used as a coating base for clutch, brake and automatic transmission systems. It imparts superior wear resistance to the surface of high speed industrial rolls used in printing, textiles and papermaking.