Evopreg® PFC502

1 of 9 products in this brand
Evopreg® PFC502 prepregs are a range of fire-retardant, pre-impregnated composite materialsbased on a PFA (Polyfurfuryl Alcohol) bioresin. PFA is a thermosetting bioresin derived from crop waste and is similar to phenolic resin but withlower toxicity and VOC emissions. In addition to its environmental credentials, PFA hasoutstanding fire retardant properties, plus excellent temperature and chemical resistance. The prepregs can be supplied with a range of reinforcement fibers and fabric constructions,including woven and unidirectional E-glass fiber and carbon fiber. They can be consolidated byvacuum bagging, autoclave or press molding and are designed for applications includingaircraft interiors, rail interiors, marine, offshore and construction.

Polymer Name: Polyfurfuryl Alcohol

Functions: Prepreg

Reinforcement Material: Aramid (Kevlar), Carbon Fibers, Flax Fibers, Glass Fibers

Processing Methods: Compression Molding, Prepreg Processing, Vacuum Bagging

Technical Data Sheet

Knowde Enhanced TDS

Identification & Functionality

Composite Materials Functions

Features & Benefits

Key Features & Benefits
  • Outstanding FST performance - FAR/CS 25.853 (aero) and EN 45545-2 HL3 (rail)
  • Low toxicity and low VOC emissions
  • Low environmental impact
  • Flexible cure temperature 130-160°C
  • Suitable for vacuum bag/oven, autoclave and press molding
  • Suitable for bonding to core materials including Nomex honeycomb
  • Service temperature up to 200°C
  • Out-life 14 days at room temperature
  • Storage life 6 months at -18°C
  • Available on a wide range of reinforcement fabrics

Applications & Uses

Properties

Composite Properties

Mechanical Properties of Monolithic Laminates

Glass

Typical data for laminates made from woven glass-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg® PFC502-G300S-7781-40-1270) cured in an autoclave for 1 hour at 140°C.

Property Result Test method
Fiber content by volume, Vf 43% Internal method
Cured ply thickness 0.26 mm/ply Internal method
Density 1.84 g/cm3 ISO 1183
Flexural strength, 0° 495 MPa ISO 178
Flexural strength, 90° 395 MPa ISO 178
Flexural modulus, 0° 21.8 GPa ISO 178
Flexural modulus, 90° 18.9 GPa ISO 178
Tensile strength, 0° 304 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile strength, 90° 253 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus, 0° 21.9 GPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus, 90° 21.1 GPa ISO 527-4
Compressive strength, 0° 343 MPa ASTM D3410
Compressive strength, 90° 22.6 GPa ASTM D3410
Apparent interlaminar shear
strength (ILSS), 0°
41.1 MPa ISO 14130
In-plane shear strength 85 MPa ISO 14129
In-plane shear modulus 5.2 GPa ISO 14129

 

 

Typical data for laminates made from woven glass-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg®
PFC502-G870T-35-1250) cured in an autoclave at 3.5 bar for 1 hour at 140°C.

Property Result Test method
Fiber content by volume, Vf 54% Internal method
Cured ply thickness 0.64 mm/ply Internal method
Density 1.93 g/cm3 Internal method
Flexural strength, 0° 416 MPa ISO 14125
Flexural strength, 90° 433 MPa ISO 14125
Flexural modulus, 0° 20.0 GPa ISO 14125
Flexural modulus, 90° 21.2 GPa ISO 14125
Tensile strength, 0° 268 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile strength, 90° 246 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus, 0° 22.0 GPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus, 90° 22.9 GPa ISO 527-4
Compressive strength, 0° 343 MPa ASTM D6641
Compressive strength, 90° 22.6 GPa ASTM D6641
Apparent interlaminar shear
strength (ILSS), 0°
41.1 MPa ISO 14130
In-plane shear strength 85 MPa ISO 14129
In-plane shear modulus 5.2 GPa ISO 14129

 

 

Carbon

Typical data for laminates made from woven carbon-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg® PFC502-C245T-HS-3K-42-1250) cured in an autoclave at 3.5 bar for 1 hour at 140°C.

Property Result Test method
Fiber content by volume, Vf 50% Internal method
Cured ply thickness 0.28 mm/ply Internal method
Density 1.47 g/cm3 Internal method
Flexural strength, 0° 629 MPa ISO 14125
Flexural strength, 90° 727 MPa ISO 14125
Flexural modulus, 0° 49.6 GPa ISO 14125
Flexural modulus, 90° 45.9 GPa ISO 14125
Tensile strength, 0° 526 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile strength, 90° 619 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus, 0° 62.6 GPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus, 90° 55.8 GPa ISO 527-4
Compressive strength, 0° 294 MPa ASTM D6641
Compressive strength, 90° 370 MPa ASTM D6641
Apparent interlaminar shear
strength (ILSS), 0°
32.2 MPa ASTM D2344
In-plane shear strength 123 MPa ISO 14129

 

 

Typical data for laminates made from woven carbon-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg® PFC502-C650T-HS-12K-38-1250) cured in an autoclave for 1 hour at 140°C.

Property Result Test method
Fiber content by volume, Vf 55% Internal method
Cured ply thickness 0.65 mm/ply Internal method
Density 1.57 g/cm3 ISO 1183
Flexural strength 454 MPa ISO 178
Flexural modulus 46.5 GPa ISO 178
Tensile strength 761 MPa ISO 527-4
Tensile modulus 61.0 GPa ISO 527-4
Compressive strength 236 MPa ASTM D3410
Compressive strength 56 GPa ASTM D3410
Apparent interlaminar shear
strength (ILSS)
33.9 MPa ISO 14130
In-plane shear strength 192 MPa ISO 14129
In-plane shear chord
modulus
6.44 GPa ISO 14129

 

Mechanical Properties of Sandwich Panels

Data for sandwich panels with woven glass-reinforced PFA prepreg skins (Evopreg® PFC502-G300S-7781-40, 2 layers, 0.5 mm thick) and Nomex honeycomb core (48 kg/m3, 3.2 mm cell, 9.4 mm thick) cured in an autoclave for 1 hour at 140°C. Upperside of fabric (weft face) facing the honeycomb; warp direction of fabric to L-direction of honeycomb.

Property Result Test method
Climbing drum peel strength 103 N/75mm EN 2243-3
Long beam flexural strength 1003 N SAE 8-266N SAE-AMS-STD-401

 

 

Fire, Smoke & Toxicity Properties

Aircraft Interiors - FAR/CS 25.853

Glass

Typical data for laminates made from woven glass-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg®
PFC502-G300S-7781-40, 2 layers, 0.5 mm thick) cured in an autoclave for 1 hour at 140°C.

Property Test method Units Result
Flammability
vertical 60 s flaming
Burn length AITM 2.0002A / FAR/CS 25.853
App.F Pt.I
mm 31
After flame time s <1
After flame time of drips s 0 (no drips
Max. specific optical smoke density within 4 min, flaming mode AITM 2.0007A /
FAR/CS 25.853
App.F Pt.V
- 3
Max. concentration of smoke gas
components, flaming mode
HCN AITM 3.0005 /
ABD0031 Iss.F
ppm 0.5
CO 89
NO/NO2 5.6
SO2/H2S 0
HF 0
HCI 0
Heat release rate - max. within 5 min (HRR) AITM 2.0006 /
FAR/CS 25.853
App.F Pt.IV
kW/m2 28.3
Heat release - within 2 min (HR) kW.min/m2 9.7

 

Train Interiors - EN 45545-2

Glass

Data for laminates made from woven glass-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg®
PFC502-G300S-7781-40, 8 layers, 2 mm thick) cured in an autoclave for 1 hour at 140°C.

Requirement set Test method reference Parameter Units Result average Class
R1 T02 ISO 5658-2 CFE kW/m2 45.93 HL3
R1, R6 T03.01 ISO 5660-1,
50 kW/m2
MARHE kW/m2 32.46 HL3
R1, R6 T10.01 EN ISO 5659-2,
50 kW/m2
Ds4 - 22.88 HL3
R1, R6 T10.02 EN ISO 5659-2,
50 kW/m2
VOF4 min 80.46 HL3
R1, R6 T11.01 EN ISO 5659-2,
50 kW/m2
CITG(4min) - 0.1536 HL3
CITG(8min) - 0.2555 HL3

 

 

Carbon

Data for laminates made woven carbon fiber-reinforced PFA prepreg (Evopreg®
PFC502-C650T-HS-12K-38-1250, 5 layers, 3 mm thick) cured in an autoclave for 1 hour at 140°C.

Requirement set Test method reference Parameter Units Result average Class
R1 T02 ISO
5658-2
CFE kW/m2 32.3 HL3
R1, R6 T03.01 ISO 5660-1,50 kW/m2 MARHE kW/m2 43.57 HL3
R1, R6 T10.01 EN ISO 5659-2,50 kW/m2 Ds4 - 79.07 HL3
R1, R6 T10.02 EN ISO 5659-2,50 kW/m2 VOF4 min 150.76 HL3
R1, R6 T11.01 EN ISO 5659-2,50 kW/m2 CITG(4min) - 0.0874 HL3
CITG(8min) - 0.1771 HL3

Regulatory & Compliance

Technical Details & Test Data

Processing & Curing

The prepregs can be processed using standard techniques including vacuum bag/oven,
autoclave and press molding. Suggested cure cycles are shown below.

Cure temperature Minimum cure time
130°C 100 minutes
140°C 45 minutes
150°C 25 minutes
160°C 10 minutes
  • Recommended ramp rate 1-3°C/min
  • Recommended pressure 3.5 bar (50 psi)
  • Cure times may need to be extended to account for thermal lag in large tools

 

Suggested cure cycle for standard cures at 140°C:

Evopreg® PFC502 - Processing & Curing

 

Alternative cure cycle to optimize surface finish for cures at 140°C:

Evopreg® PFC502 - Processing & Curing - 1

 

Viscosity Profile

Plate-on-plate, ambient temperature 25°C, shear rate 20 s-1, ramp rate 2°C/min:

Evopreg® PFC502 - Processing & Curing - 2

Tooling and Vacuum Bagging Materials
  • PFC502 prepregs release a small amount of water during cure (polycondensation reaction). It is recommended to use well-sealed and released epoxy composite or stainless steel tooling. Aluminum and carbon steel tools are not recommended, unless coated with PTFE or other impermeable release layer, because the water and pH level can cause corrosion.
  • When curing in a vacuum bag, it is recommended to use perforated release film and heavyweight breather cloth. For thick laminates, it is recommended to use peel ply and heavyweight breather cloth. It is advisable to use a water/condensation trap to protect vacuum pumps. When press molding, it may be necessary to take steps to allow the water/steam to escape during the process.
Available Products

Evopreg® PFC502 prepregs are available with a wide range of reinforcements, including woven, non-woven, non-crimp stitched and unidirectional fabrics in the following fibers:

  • Glass
  • Carbon
  • ampliTex™ Flax (non-fire retardant applications)
  • Others on request

Safety & Health

Health & Safety

Please refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use. This material contains resin and fibers which can cause irritation to skin and eyes, and allergic reactions. Wear appropriate PPE including overalls and impervious gloves, and ensure adequate ventilation. Exothermic reactions can occur when curing resins, and particular care must be taken when curing thick laminates.

Packaging & Availability

Packaging Type
Packaging

The material is typically delivered in rolls and with a silicone coated release paper on the bottom and a polythene release film on the top. Typical packaging - 76 mm (3”) diameter cardboard core, polythene bag, reusable cable ties, cardboard box and end supports. Where relevant, multiple boxes are typically stacked on a standard wooden pallet, strapped and covered with stretch wrap. Other packaging may be available on request. We recommend retaining the boxed packaging to protect the material during storage.

Storage & Handling

Shelf Life
6 Months
Storage

The material should ideally be stored in a freezer at -18°C and sealed in a polythene bag. To protect the material, we recommend storing it in its original box with the end supports. To avoid moisture condensation, allow the material to defrost fully and reach room temperature before opening the polythene bag. Typical thaw time for a full roll is 4-6 hours. Keep the material sealed in a polythene bag when not in use to prevent moisture absorption. Out-life at room temperature is 14 days. Storage life at -18°C is 6 months.