New Generation High Performance Resin For Aerospace And Commercial Applications

UBE America and NASA have entered into a license agreement for NASA's PETI-330. The announcement was made by representatives of NASA, UBE America and UBE Industries during the recent SAMPE meeting in Long Beach (CA).

PETI-330 was developed at NASA-Langley by a team headed by John W. Connell and is covered by US Patent No. 6,359,107, "Composition of and method for making high performance resins for infusion and transfer molding processes." PETI-330 offers cost effective and affordable fabrication of high temperature composite structures for advanced aerospace vehicles. The unique combination of high temperature performance and processing characteristics enables new applications.

PETI-330 will be marketed and sold in North America by UBE America under the license from NASA.

PETI-330 offers the following innovative characteristics:

• PETI-330 composites have excellent long-term (1,000 hours) performance at 300�C.
   
  PETI-330 provides an unprecedented combination of easy processing for composite fabrication together with high temperature performance and toughness.
• PETI-330 offers low (<10 Pa-s, 288�C) and stable melt viscosity highly suited to RTM and other resin infusion processes.
• There is a simple and efficient 1-hour full cure process with no post-cure required.
• It has a high glass transition temperature 330�C / 626�F
• PETI-330 is both solvent free (no volatiles) and non toxic
• These characteristics provide the following benefits:
• Substantial improvements in both high and low temperature performance compared with traditional materials such as epoxies or bismaleimides.
• Superior combination of processability and mechanical properties compared with existing polyimides such as PMR-15
• A simplified cure process which makes it highly suitable for mass production requirements
• A reduced fabrication time for components and assemblies
• Reduced mass & weight for high temperature structural applications (i.e. it can replace metallic parts and assemblies)
• A more cost effective alternative to complex part assembly   

  

      

A spokesman for UBE stated, "UBE Industries will fully support the efforts of UBE America to develop and expand the market for this revolutionary resin. UBE continues its research and development work on new resins for aerospace applications."

"The first market to benefit from this new technology will be the aerospace industry, particularly the military sector. PETI-330 will replace metal parts of the aircraft, including helicopters, which will considerably decrease their weight," said Kei Tsukahara, product manager, UBE America.

"We expect a great demand for this exciting new product. UBE America is currently working on creating an inventory of samples for potential customers," said Tsukahara.

UBE Industries has a patent on additional types of polyimide using a-BPDA in the United States. It is currently filing for patents in Europe and Japan.
 
PETI-330 complements the existing portfolio of products offered by UBE for the aerospace industry, including UPILEX Polyimide Film and TYRANNO Silicon Carbide Fiber.

FMI: www.ube.com