Carbon fiber prepreg TORAYCA® ET40

TORAYCA® prepreg ET40 is an innovative prepreg which simultaneously provides high mechanical properties and excellent formability. ET stands for Extensible and Transformable by 40%. The superior levels of formability allow for complex shaping by compression molding with equivalent mechanical properties to conventional UD prepreg. These features enable drastically reduced cycle times and improved productivity for large-volume applications such as automotive parts. Processing Technology ET40 is made by introducing slits into UD prepreg in a controlled manner, creating a type of unidirectional SMC material in which fiber bundles are regularly arrayed in the same direction. This method allows for the consistent and regular flow of the bundles during the molding process and therefore results in the ability to be shaped into complex shapes, such as rib and deep-drawing, while maintaining a homogenous laminate structure due to its extensible and transformable nature. As a result of specific slitting patterns, ET40 is able to achieve the equivalent surface appearance, modulus and over 80% of the strength of UD prepreg. Solutions ET40 is made by introducing slits into UD prepreg in a controlled manner, creating a type of unidirectional SMC material in which fiber bundles are regularly arrayed in the same direction. This method allows for the consistent and regular flow of the bundles during the molding process and therefore results in the ability to be shaped into complex shapes, such as rib and deep-drawing, while maintaining a homogenous laminate structure due to its extensible and transformable nature.