Prepregs should be stored in their original packaging barrier film, or an equivalent film, and maintained air-tightness, at 68°F (20°C), or below, and dry place.
 

The prepreg roll must be always wrapped with a shrink film immediately after a partial use, then packed into a barrier film.
 

The small prepreg pieces that were cut from the roll in order to be laminated should be handled and protected properly. The release film must not be removed from the prepreg piece only when ready to be placed and laminated in the mold. The top release film must not be removed only when the following prepreg layer is ready to be placed. Such lamination care will ensure minimum styrene emission and working area highly environmentally friendly. The prepreg tack time out of the barrier packaging bag will be for several days, depending on the previous handling and protective caring.
 

Usual precautions should be observed. The prepreg contains mainly uncured synthetic resins. The operator has to wear appropriate mask - respirator and work in a clean, dry (R.H. = 50% or less), and ventilated area. The use of clean disposable inert gloves provides protection for the operator and prevents contamination of material and components.

All Simprex^® prepregs can be cured and processed similar to conventional epoxy prepregs, either in compression molding, vacuum bag, or autoclave.
 

During the lamination of Simprex^® prepregs, similar to any other prepregs, it is convenient to debulk the materials every few layers by subjecting the stack to vacuum in a temporary bag or on a vacuum table. Other know-how techniques can be applied for proper debulking the prepreg layers before curing. Trapped air between layers will prevent proper curing.
 

Whatever the molding process is, the three keys for a successful curing are:  

• No trapped air between the layers, as well as between the mold and the first layer;

• Apply a minimum pressure of 1 bar and maintain it along the whole curing time;

• Apply increasing, or constant, heat in order to bring the inside temperature of the whole compressed prepreg layers, quite equal to the specified curing temperature, usually 120-125°C, and maintain it for 20-25 min.

If maximum T_g and mechanical performance are required, post cure has to be considered at the specific recommended temperature, generally 140-160°C, for 30-45 min.

Apart of the intrinsic smell of phenolic resins, which is inevitably present in phenolic prepregs, however with much less smells density, the Phepreg^® materials do not require any special care and remain in a stable stage, in terms of tack and easiness of handling, at ambient normal conditions.
 

Usual precautions should be observed. Phepreg^® materials contain mainly uncured phenolic resins. The operator has to wear appropriate mask - respirator and work in a clean, dry (R.H. = 50% or less), and ventilated area. The use of clean disposable inert gloves provides protection for the operator and prevents contamination of material and components.

Phepreg^® prepregs can be cured and processed similar to conventional phenolic prepregs, either in compression (bumping/breathing) molding, vacuum bag, or autoclave.
 

It is also convenient to debulk the prepregs every few layers by subjecting the stack to vacuum in a temporary bag or on a vacuum table. Other know-how techniques can be applied for proper debulking the prepreg layers before curing. Trapped air between layers will prevent proper curing.
 

Whatever the molding process is, the three keys for a successful curing are:  

• No trapped air between the layers, as well as between the mold and the first layer;

• Apply a minimum pressure of 1 bar and maintain it along the whole curing time;

• Apply increasing, or constant, heat in order to bring the inside temperature of the whole compressed prepreg layers, quite equal to the specified curing temperature, usually 115-120°C, and maintain it for 20-25 min.

If maximum T_g and mechanical performance are required, post cure has to be considered at the specific recommended temperature, generally 150-160°C, for 60-120 min