Composites are crucial to a wide range of industries. From sporting goods to oil and gas to automotive, various applications require composites for their numerous benefits. However, there can be some defects in composites that impact the function and safety of an application. Let’s explore composites, their potential defects, and how to address them.

Advantages of Composites

Composites provide many advantages to their applications. Some of the most common advantages of composites include:

  • High strength-to-weight ratio
  • High specific stiffness
  • Customizable properties through layup design
  • Fatigue resistance
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Low thermal expansion

Common Defects in Composites

There are a few common defects seen in composites for a variety of reasons, however, one of the most common causes of these defects is incorrect layup. Some common defects include:

Foreign Object Debris

Foreign object debris (FOD) in composites refers to the presence of unintended materials within the laminate. This is commonly caused by contamination during the layup process. Debris and foreign objects can negatively impact the mechanical properties and aesthetics of a composite, impacting its effectiveness of the application. This can contribute to dangerous failures for critical industries that require excellence and accuracy in their products.

Voids in the Resin and Between Layers of Resin

These voids are empty spaces or gaps within the resin matrix where no resin or fibers are present. This essentially creates a hole in the composite resin. Voids can reduce the mechanical properties of the finished product, as well as negatively impacting the lifespan of the composite. Both mechanical properties and the lifespan are crucial to the critical applications of various industries, including aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, marine, and more, so avoiding voids is a necessity when creating composites.

How to Properly Eliminate Defects in Composites

Since many of the problems associated with composites can be attributed to improper layup, it is important to ensure you are enacting the proper techniques and using high-quality products and materials.

Using High-Quality Hi-Shrink Tape Solutions

Finding and implementing a high-quality Hi-Shrink tape solution can increase the quality of your composites by decreasing the amount of defects. Hi-Shrink tapes remove voids in the resin and between layers of resin. Additionally, these tape solutions can improve the lamination of composites, give your products a high-quality surface finish and improve mechanical strength of your products all while increasing your output with minimal capital equipment cost.

Some Hi-Shrink tape solutions from Dunstone include:

  • 100 Series is our thinnest tape and applies low to moderate shrink force. This is ideal for use in thin-walled composite parts.
  • 140 Series is suitable for composite tubes, ductwork, and more with its low to moderate shrink force.
  • 200 Series also applies low to moderate shrink force and is used to consolidate composite tubes and other thin-walled applications.
  • 300 Series is commonly used on thicker-walled composites including flexible ductwork, composite tubes, and silicone hoses.
  • 500 Series has a moderate to high shrink force and is used for thicker-walled composites like composite tubes, containment rings, and more.
  • HT Series is designed to provide release characteristics and moderate compaction forces that can withstand higher temperatures.
  • X Series can withstand much higher temperatures than other shrinkable tape and has a max shrink percentage of 12%.

Properly Applying Hi-Shrink Tape

The way you apply your Hi-Shrink tape can impact the performance of your composite. To properly apply your tape, you’ll need to understand your application and start experimenting with the tension and overlapping percentage that is right for your project. Both of these aspects of the application project can impact the compaction force of your Hi-Shrink tape. To learn more about how to properly use and apply your Hi-Shrink tape,  check out insight from our experts on this blog.

Learn More About How to Reduce Defects in Composites with Dunstone’s Hi-Shrink Tape Solutions

If you are interested in learning more about our Hi-Shrink tape solutions, or if you want to design a solution that fits your exact application, contact our team today.