Technical Department - Primco Limited

Grimshaw Lane, Middleton, Manchester, M24 2AA, England

Tel +44 (0) 161 653 4876 Fax +44 (0) 161 655 3673 email: Mike@primco.co.uk

Attention of Jürgen Schelling

Further to our brief discussions at the end of last weeks meeting concerning ‘new materials’ which
may be of interest to you, we confirm that we will despatch a SL246 based Sandwich panel to you.
This will be at least 650 x 550mm, and we understand that you will be fire testing this panel for your
own interest.

Following this, we would like to take this opportunity of bringing to your attention two other products
we have developed with the Aerospace industry in mind, the first of which we very briefly discussed.

SL199 & UD062 - (Unidirectional Phenolic Prepregs)

This product combination was developed some years ago to produce stiff flat sandwich panels which
would be as mechanically sound as a conventional Epoxy/Phenolic prepreg combination, but being
100% phenolic would have better FST properties.

As a panel structure of 2 + 2 plies plus honeycomb, this would have a total prepreg weight of 1620
gsm and a resin content of 43%. (700 gsm of resin) Thus having 12.5% less resin than 4 plies of our
SL246/40 prepreg, this system is designed to give even better fire properties.

SL304 - S2 Glass Phenolic Prepreg

Our objective in this development program was to ‘Further reduce the weight and improve the FST
performance in aircraft interior materials with minimal increase in cost to the customer’.

Whilst full screening test results have yet to be fully evaluated, we believe we have achieved this
objective by the use of S2 glass reinforcement of our Phenolic resin system. I have given on the
attached sheet a summary & comparison of the properties of our S2 & E glass prepregs (SL304 &
SL246 respectively).

These show good increases in performance, particularly for Tensile & Flexural properties as you might
expect.

Taking a very simplistic view, and using just the Tensile Strength and Weight as the basic factors,
comparative load bearing panels could be produced which:

• Show weight savings of up to 45%

• Have 45% less resin therefore FST properties must show a similar improvement.

• The cost increase is justifiable, bearing in mind the benefits obtained, and is lower than
would be the case if Aramid or Carbon was used.

We would be happy to provide more information or samples as appropriate. We trust you will find the
above information of interest and look forward to your comments in due course.

Mike Seddon,
30th August, 2001
 Technical Department - Primco Limited
Grimshaw Lane, Middleton, Manchester, M24 2AA, England
Tel +44 (0) 161 653 4876 Fax +44 (0) 161 655 3673 email: Mike@primco.co.uk

Comparison of S2 & E Glass Phenolic Prepregs

Property S2 Glass E Glass Comment

SL304 SL246 S2 Glass has:
In Plane Shear RT MPa 90 83
IPS Modulus RT GPa 2.6 4.8

Tensile Strength RT MPa 675 394 Notable Increase of 71%

Tensile Modulus RT GPa 23.3 24.4

Tensile Strength +80 MPa 530 284

Tensile Modulus +80 GPa 21.8 21.4

Flexural Strength RT MPa 710 580 Notable Increase of 22%

Flexural Modulus RT GPa 22.8 22.6

Flexural Strength +80 MPa 540 439

Flexural Modulus +80 GPa 20.9 20.2

Flexural Strength Skydrol MPa 692 600

Flexural Modulus Skydrol GPa 20.6 21.5

Flexural Strength Water MPa 628 540

Flexural Modulus Water GPa 19.4 20.2

Tensile Lap Shear RT MPa 29.4 25.2 16% Increase

Tensile Lap Shear Wet/40°C MPa 31.1 25.0
Tensile Lap Shear +80 MPa 25.8 19.5

Comp Strength RT MPa 447 395 13% Increase

Comp Modulus RT GPa 25.2 25.5
 Technical Department - Primco Limited
Grimshaw Lane, Middleton, Manchester, M24 2AA, England
Tel +44 (0) 161 653 4876 Fax +44 (0) 161 655 3673 email: Mike@primco.co.uk

Example Panels Showing Potential Weight Savings

Standard Sandwich Panel SL246 7781 & 40% RC

Material Fabric Weight Resin Weight

SL246 1 Ply 300 200
SL246 1 Ply 300 200
Honeycomb
SL246 1 Ply 300 200
SL246 1 Ply 300 200
Total 1200 800 Total Prepreg Weight 2000 gsm

S2 Glass Sandwich Panel SL304 S2 Glass 2x2 Twill & 40% - Option 1

Material Fabric Weight Resin Weight

SL304 1 Ply 166 110
SL304 1 Ply 166 110
Honeycomb
SL304 1 Ply 166 110
SL304 1 Ply 166 110
Total 664 440 Total Prepreg Weight 1104 gsm
Marginally reduced mechanical performance
Standard Fabric Construction
Reduced Resin Weight – Improved FST performance

S2 Glass Sandwich Panel SLxxx S2 Glass & 40% - Option 2

Material Fabric Weight Resin Weight

SLxxx 1 Ply 350 233

Honeycomb
SLxxx 1 Ply 350 233

Total 700 466 Total Prepreg Weight 1166 gsm

Equal mechanical performance
Non Standard Fabric Construction
Reduced Resin Weight – Improved FST performance

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

These are theoretical options for illustration purposes only, and any modifications should be subject to evaluation.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________