TeXtreme Fabrics Best in Reinforcement Test

TeXtreme® Spread Tow Reinforcements have been tested by an independent research institute and proved to provide better or equal mechanical performance to other composite reinforcements in 6 out of 7 tests.

Swerea SICOMP, an independent research institute, carried out tests comparing the mechanical properties on different composite reinforcements: Spread Tow, NCF, plain weave 1k and 3k and woven UD. The results of these test favored TeXtreme® Spread Tow carbon reinforcements.

Andreas Martsman, Vice President – Marketing & Sales of Oxeon says: “It is always good to get additional confirmation from an independent institute and this reaffirms what we and our customers have known for long. The weight savings and improved mechanical properties that come from TeXtreme® have now received further recognition through yet another unbiased test. The mechanical properties from TeXtreme® and our flexibility in production strengthen our offer of optimized reinforcement solutions tailor-made for specific applications.”

In connection with these tests Swerea SICOMP also performed simulation modeling and found that the extremely low crimp of TeXtreme® only gives a stiffness knock-down of 0,08% compared to a cross ply of UD. The low crimp in TeXtreme® thus basically eliminates the difference in performance from an UD and has all the benefits of a woven fabric.

TeXtreme® is based on Oxeon’s Spread Tow- and Tape Weaving Technologies that uses tapes instead of yarn. A woven material comprising interlacing fibrous tapes, instead of yarns, displays a substantially reduced number of interstices/openings. This means that a tape woven structure presents less accumulation of matrix at the interstices and hence increased fiber volume fraction.

The proven mechanical performance of the woven Spread Tow structure in combination with the more optimal fiber volume fraction enables production of ultra light and high performing advanced composite parts.