ARALDITE® LY 556 / ARADUR® 917-1 / ACCELERATOR 960-1

ARALDITE® LY 556 / ARADUR® 917-1 / ACCELERATOR 960-1 is an epoxy resin, anhydride hardener and amine accelerator. Used in High-performance composite parts.

RTU Product Type: Impregnating Resin System

Product End Uses: Composites

Chemical Family: Epoxy & Epoxy Derivatives

Composites Processing Methods: Filament Winding, Pressure Molding, Pultrusion

Features: Excellent Thermal Properties, Good Dynamic Properties, Good Impregnation Capability, Good Mechanical Properties, High Performance, Long Potlife, Low Viscosity

Cure Method: Heat Cure

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Enhanced TDS

Identification & Functionality

Features & Benefits

Ready-to-Use Product Features
Product Features
  • Anhydride-Cured, low-viscosity standard matrix system with extremely long pot life.
  • The reactivity of the system is adjustable by variation of the accelerater content.
  • The system is easy to process, has good fibre impregnation properties and exhibits excellent mechanical, dynamic and thermal properties.

Applications & Uses

Composites Processing Methods
Cure Method
Product End Uses
Mixing Ratio

We recommend that the components are weighed with an accurate balance to prevent mixing inaccuracies which can affect the properties of the matrix system. The components should be mixed thoroughly to ensure homogeneity. It is important that the side and the bottom of the vessel are incorporated into the mixing process. When processing large quantities of mixture the pot life will decrease due to exothermic reaction. It is advisable to divide large mixes into several smaller containers.

Product Processing Instructions
  • Pultrusion
  • Pressure Molding
  • Filament Winding
Processing Recommendation

To simplify the mixing process the resin can be preheated to about 30 °C to 50 °C before adding the cold hardener. Hardener and accelerator can be premixed, thus allowing the use of two component mixing/metering equipment. The mix of hardener and accelerator has a shelf life of several days.
The processing of the system at elevated temperatures of 30 °C to 40 °C shows the best results. The gelation temperature should not be higher than absolutely necessary. A high gelation temperature induces high shrinkage and generates internal stresses.

Properties

Physical Form
Notes

 Processing Properties : Typical Cure Cycles

Stage Time Temperature
Gelation 2 – 4 h 80 °C
1 – 3 h 90 °C
Post-Cure 4 – 8 h 120 °C
2 – 8 h 140 °C

Cure temperatures in excess of about 130 °C cause brown discolouration but do not impair the properties of the product.

Technical Details & Test Data

Properties of The Cured, Neat Formulation

Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) (IEC 1006, DSC,10 K/min)

Cure Tg [°C]
4 h 80 °C 95 – 100
1 h 100 °C 110 – 115
4 h 100 °C 115 – 120
1 h 120 °C 125 – 130
4 h 80 °C + 4 h 120 °C 130 – 135
4 h 80 °C + 4 h 140 °C 133 – 138

Tensile Test (ISO 527)

Property Unit Value
Tensile strength MPa 88 – 91
Elongation at tensile strength % 5.0 – 6.0
Ultimate strength MPa 87 – 94
Ultimate elongation % 5.5 – 6.5
Tensile modulus MPa 3100 – 3200

Flexural Test (ISO 178)

Property Unit Value
Flexural strength MPa 150 – 155
Elongation at flexural strength % 6.5 – 7.0
Ultimate strength MPa 148 – 155
Ultimate elongation % 6.5 – 7.0
Flexural modulus MPa 3200 – 3350

Fracture Properties Bend Notch Test (PM 258-0/90)

Property Unit Value
Fracture toughness K1C MPa√m 0.57 – 0.60
Fracture energy G1C J/m² 110 – 120

Water Absorption (ISO 62)

Cure: 4h 80 °C + 4h 140 °C

Condition Unit Value
1 day H₂O at 23 °C % 0.10 – 0.15
10 days H₂O at 23 °C % 0.35 – 0.40
60 min H₂O at 100 °C % 0.20 – 0.25

Poisson’s Ratio

Unit Value
μ 0.35
Properties of The Cured, Reinforced Formulation

Unless otherwise stated, the figures given are for pressed laminate samples comprising 12 layers (3.1 - 3.25 mm) of E-glass fabric UD, 425 g/m2, fibre volume content 61 - 64 %.

Flexural Test (ISO 178)

Property Unit Value
Flexural strength MPa 1000 – 1100
Elongation at surface % 2.3 – 2.5
Flexural modulus MPa 45000 – 46000

 

Interlaminar Shear Strength (ASTM D 2344)
Short beam: E-glass unidirectional specimen
Laminate thickness t = 3.1 - 3.25 mm
Fibre volume content: 61 - 64 %

Property Unit Value
Shear strength MPa 60 – 62

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Safety & Health

Handling Precautions
Personal hygiene
Safety precautions at workplace
protective clothing overalls
gloves essential
arm protectors recommended when skin contact likely
goggles/safety glasses yes
Skin protection
before starting work Apply barrier cream to exposed skin
after washing Apply barrier or nourishing cream
Cleansing of contaminated skin Dab off with absorbent paper, wash with warm water
and alkali-free soap, then dry with disposable towels.
Do not use solvents
Disposal of spillage Soak up with sawdust or cotton waste and deposit in
plastic-lined bin
Ventilation of workshop Renew air 3 to 5 times an hour
Ventilation of workplaces Exhaust fans. Operatives should avoid inhaling
vapours

First Aid : Contamination of the eyes by resin, hardener or mix should be treated immediately by flushing with clean, running water for 10 to 15 minutes. A doctor should then be consulted. Material smeared or splashed on the skin should be dabbed off, and the contaminated area then washed and treated with a cleansing cream (see above). A doctor should be consulted in the event of severe irritation or burns. Contaminated clothing should be changed immediately. Anyone taken ill after inhaling vapours should be moved out of doors immediately. In all cases of doubt call for medical assistance.

Storage & Handling

Storage Conditions
  • Provided that ARALDITE® LY 556, ARADUR® 917-1 and ACCELERATOR 960-1 are stored in a dry place in their original, properly closed containers at the storage temperatures they will have the shelf lives indicated on the labels.
  • Partly emptied containers should be closed immediately after use.Because ARADUR® 917 is sensitive to moisture, storage containers should be ventilated with dry air only.
  • ARALDITE® LY 556 which has crystallized and looks cloudy can be restored to its original state by heating to 60 - 80 °C.