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3M™ Matrix Resin Technology

micro-buckle, like a small wrinkle

Solving the problem with carbon fiber composites

Carbon fiber composite products are limited by their compression strength. Under compressive loading, carbon fibers can micro-buckle (like a small wrinkle) resulting in breaking or failure of the composite product.

This SEM image shows the cooperative compression failure of carbon fibers in a composite.

The secret to 3M's matrix technology is simple

Creating a resin with a high concentration of uniformly dispersed nanoparticles makes a stronger composite. These nanoparticles are so tiny, they can uniformly surround and support the carbon fibers, significantly increasing the shear modulus of the resin, and effectively delaying the micro-buckling of the carbon fibers. The greater the nanoparticle loading, the stiffer the support of the carbon fiber. Where other nanotechnologies (like carbon nano tubes) deliver <3% nanoparticles loading, 3M's proprietary technology uniquely enables loadings of >40% of uniformly dispersed nanoparticles.

Uniform dispersion of nanoparticles

nanoparticles around carbon fiber

Getting nanoparticles in between each carbon fiber is the key to the performance enhancements of 3M™ Matrix Resins.

matrix resin composites technology

Conventional–sized fillers, like those at the top of this image, are simply too large to completely surround the fibers, and difficult to disperse uniformly in the resin.

3M technology bends the rules

nanoparticles in Bis- A expoxy

This SEM image shows the rough and three-dimensional surface area that occurs when a 3M Matrix Resin Composite is stressed. The exceptional bond between the particle and the resin hinders crack propagation by creating a tortuous path that dissipates energy. The result: tougher composites.

3M's ability to significantly increase resin shear modulus is a game changer in and of itself. But 3M's technology truly bends the rules by simultaneously increasing fracture toughness. In the past, attempts to increase resin stiffness resulted in a significant decrease in fracture toughness, producing very brittle materials. 3M's proprietary nanoparticles technology creates such a strong bond between the particle and the resin, that energy is dissipated when the composite is stressed, preventing crack propagation.

3M resin technology translates into composite performance by enabling significantly higher compression strength, in-plane shear modulus, interlaminar shear strength, and flexural strength to your composite products.