A new innovative thermoset prepreg resin system

Solvay announces at JEC World 2017 (March 14-16) the launch of its new innovative thermoset prepreg resin system SolvaLite™ 730* specifically developed for high volume automotive applications.

This next-generation material, formulated with Reichhold Advalite™ resins, offers an unmatched combination of characteristics and benefits to the market including:

  • Sub 60 seconds cure capability, making it ideal for high volume structural applications (150,000 vehicles p.a.).
  • Standard properties in line with autoclave-cured high-performance automotive systems.
  • Exceptional toughness when compared with other available rapid cure systems.
  • Low tack, designed for use in automated processes.
  • Storage stable at room temperature, removing the need for freezers and temperature controlled transportation.

This revolutionary prepreg resin system offers very high flexibility in processing and enables the efficient manufacturing of different types of components at high rates.

SolvaLite™ 730 rapid cure capability, combined with Solvay’s process innovations allow for high rate manufacture of composite structures meeting the automotive OEMs cost and capacity targets,” said Gerald Perrin, Program Management Director – Serial Automotive, at Solvay Composite Materials. “Reichhold was a key partner in developing this innovative chemistry that supported Solvay’s unique approach to producing serial automotive composite structures.”

John Ilkka, Business Development Manager – Advanced Materials at Reichhold added, “Reichhold, working with Solvay under a collaboration agreement, developed the novel Advalite™ resin system that was used to formulate SolvaLite™ 730. We are excited to see this novel product on the market as we believe it represents a step-change for the industry.”

Solvay will be introducing SolvaLite™ 730 at JEC World 2017 by exhibiting cured parts and delivering presentations to visitors on Stand L42 in Hall 5A on Tuesday, March 14 and Wednesday, March 15 at 11:00am and 3:00pm.

SolvaLite and Evolite are trademarks of Solvay
* SolvaLite™ 730 is a component of the SolvaLite™ range of thermoset composites and complements Solvay’s Evolite™ range of thermoplastic composites
Advalite is a trademark of Reichhold

About Solvay Composite Materials

Solvay’s new Global Business Unit Composite Materials is a global provider of technologically advanced lightweighting material solutions that enable our customers in the aerospace, automotive and other demanding industries to design, develop and efficiently manufacture high-quality, high-performance and complex composite structures. Composite Materials has the most extensive product portfolio, including prepregs, resin systems, adhesives and surfacing films, carbon fiber, textiles, tooling and vacuum bagging consumables, thanks to its leadership in advanced materials science, chemistry and application engineering. Solvay Composite Materials combines the former Cytec Aerospace Materials and Industrial Materials businesses.

About Solvay

Solvay is a multi-specialty chemical company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers in diverse global end markets. Its products and solutions are used in planes, cars, smart and medical devices, batteries, in mineral and oil extraction, among many other applications promoting sustainability. Its lightweighting materials enhance cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 27,000 employees in 58 countries. Pro forma net sales were € 10.9 billion in 2016, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB – Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program.

About Reichhold

Founded in 1927, Reichhold, with its world headquarters and technology center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of unsaturated polyester resins and a leading supplier of coating resins for the industrial, transportation, building and construction, marine, consumer and graphic arts markets. Reichhold has manufacturing operations throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

About Reichhold’s Advalite Resins

Reichhold’s Advalite™ Vinyl Hybrid resins have applications in high performance markets including Automotive, Wind Energy, Aerospace, Defense, and Electronics. Serial Automotive applications in both prepreg compression molding and liquid compression molding have been commercialized. Reichhold’s Advalite™ Vinyl Hybrid resins are styrene free and are available in both liquid and hot melt resin formats.

Source: Solvay