TECHNOLOGY
Murticyachts are built using the latest cutting edge technology and materials used in the Airplane and Formula1 industry. To build our high end yachts we use exclusively Sprint.
SPRINT® – SP Resin Infusion Technology – is a unique patented material and processing technology that allows high quality composite components, with high mechanical properties and very low void content, to be produced rapidly and economically.
SPRINT® materials consist of a layer of fibre reinforcement either side of a pre-cast, precatalysed resin film with a very lightweight tack film on one face. The material therefore has the appearance of dry reinforcement, which has resin concealed at its center. SPRINT® materials are produced by a process that differs from conventional prepreg so that the fibres in the reinforcements remain dry and unimpregnated by the resin.
SPRINT® materials are laid up in a mould and vacuum bagged as for conventional prepreg. However, when the vacuum is applied, the air transport properties of the dry reinforcement enable air trapped in the fibre bundles and between layers to be easily removed. When the temperature is then raised for the cure, the resin film softens and flows into the air-free reinforcement. The void content of the resultant laminate is extremely low (typically 0-0.5%).
SPRINT® / SparPregTM – “Out of Autoclave”
DESCRIPTION
When using prepreg materials in thick laminates (>3mm) it becomes difficult to remove entrapped air between plies, and around laminate details like ply overlaps, during the curing process. To overcome this problem in traditional prepreg materials a number of warm debulking stages are introduced during lay-up to remove trapped air which significantly increases manufacturing times. In recent years Gurit has patented a number of modified prepreg products that enable the manufacture of high quality (low void content) thick laminates in one processing step. SPRINT® materials consist of a resin film sandwiched between two dry fibre layers. Once placed in the mould, a vacuum is pulled to extract all of the air in the laminate (monolithic and/or sandwich) before heat is applied to allow the resin to soften and impregnate the dry fibre layers and then cure. SparPregTM is a modified prepreg that enables air to be easily removed from between adjacent plies during the application of vacuum and the subsequent curing process.
MATERIALS OPTIONS
– Resins: Most commonly epoxy but other resins available.
– Fibres: Any.
– Cores: Most, although PVC foam needs special procedures due to the elevated temperatures involved in the process.
MAIN ADVANTAGES
– High fibre volumes can be accurately achieved with low void contents for very thick laminates (100mm).
– High resin mechanical properties due to solid state of initial polymer material and elevated temperature cure.
– Enables the use of lower cost heavyweight materials (eg 1600 gsm) and allows fast deposition rates reducing component manufacturing costs.
– Very robust and repeatable process as the resin content is accurately controlled and the complexity of the infusion process is very low.
– Environmetally safe as the resin has already been mixed , there is no emission of volatile gasses typically present when mixing two component resin systems.
MAIN DISADVANTAGES
– Materials cost is still higher than for non-peimpregnated fabrics although resin costs are lower than those required for aerospace applications.
– Tooling needs to be able to withstand higher temperatures than Infusion Processes (typically 80-140°C).
TYPICAL APLICATIONS
– High-performance wind-turbine blades, large racing and cruising yachts, rescue craft.