Michelman to Spotlight Hydrosize Fiber Sizings at JEC World Composites Show

Visitors to Michelman’s booth N44, Hall 5 at the 2016 JEC World Composites Show being held March 8-10 in Paris, will learn about the company’s versatile line of fibre sizings and compounding additives used by composite OEMs and resin suppliers to make composites stronger, lighter and more durable. The company’s broad portfolio of products allow customers to tailor the surface chemistry of reinforcement fibers to the chemistry of the matrix resin and optimise the interfacial adhesion between the polymers and fibres.

Known primarily for its flagship brand, Hydrosize®, Michelman’s film forming dispersions optimise the surface chemistry of reinforcement fibres that are integral to high performance composites. The company’s diverse product range is optimized for a broad range of thermoplastic, and thermoset resins, including high temperature matrices. Hydrosize is applied during the manufacturing process of chopped or continuous strand fibreglass, carbon fibre, natural fibres and fillers or post-applied when making non-wovens and composite pre-pregs.

Grades are specifically engineered for many thermoplastic resins including polypropylene and polyamide, as well as various thermoset resins such as epoxy and polyurethane. Through the development and use of proprietary technologies, Michelman also offers grades capable of performing in high temperature thermoplastics, such as PPS and PEEK.

Michelman will also introduce visitors to Hydrosize® Connect, a new family of polymeric compounding additives designed to optimise fibre-resin matrix interfacial adhesion by targeting fiber surface chemistry. Added at the compounding stage, Hydrosize Connect improves wetting, adhesion and impregnation of fibre in resin, resulting in higher performing composites.

According to Mr Gilles LeMoigne, Global Marketing Manager at Michelman, "We are excited to introduce show attendees to our very first grades of Hydrosize Connect and will continue to expand this exciting new family of compounding additives as part of our product development initiatives.”

Complementing Michelman’s fiber sizings and compounding additives are a selection of Hydrolube® processing aids to provide fibre protection during forming, processing and post processing, as well as slip resistance and lubricity.