Sicomin to showcase carbon fibre MaxCore technology at Composites Europe

Sicomin’s MaxCore sandwich core infusion technology was launched at JEC World earlier this year with both flat and curved panels using glass and flax reinforcement fibres.

The company will now present the ultimate in high-performance MaxCore technology using carbon fabrics for the laminate as well as carbon fibres for the thru-foam structure. The 60mm thick demonstration part features 4mm diameter carbon filament bundles inserted through a Rohacell core, with carbon skins infused with Sicomin’s high modulus epoxy system SR 1710, which is optimised for carbon fibre parts.

Sicomin’s new MaxCore carbon fibre technology is ideal for applications that become too heavy when engineered in glass fibre and require a lightweight and high stiffness solution. The technology is aimed at industries in which lightweight, structural performance and energy/cost saving are key drivers, including aerospace, marine, civil engineering, rail and other transportation.

MaxCore is an innovative method of dry fibre insertion into thick foam cores, with dry filaments of glass, natural fibres or carbon, for infusion manufacturing of large sandwich structures. Dry fibres are inserted into the foam in multiple orientations and are responsible for 100% of the mechanical properties of the infused processed core.

With its patented manufacturing process, Sicomin is able to place these reinforcement fibres with precise fibre angles and positions within the core and can produce MaxCore panels with core thicknesses as high as 300mm.

Due to the mechanical contribution of the fibre reinforcement, MaxCore doesn’t rely on denser and more expensive core material, so it is a cost-effective option compared with classic foam cores used in composite panels.

As the core material is solely a carrier for the fibre reinforcement, cores can be selected based on other required parameters such as: fire and smoke behaviour, water resistance, thermoformable ability, low resin absorption or sustainable chemistry.

Future developments under way include a thermoplastic version of the MaxCore technology and a new factory in Northern France.

www.sicomin.com