| Get more of the performance you need for advanced composites with Virantage® specialty materials. This extensive family of monomers and polymers helps formulators achieve the high level of performance needed for even the most demanding applications. Product forms include powders, fine powders and superfine powders. |
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Sulfone Polymers and Monomers
Virantage® polyethersulfone (PESU) is an amorphous, high-temperature thermoplastic that offers excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability. Its inherent toughness imparts damage tolerance to thermoset composites and excellent flexibility to coatings. Reactive end groups enhance solubility and improve interfacial properties with epoxy thermosets.
Solvay is creating a new PESU production site at its state-of-the-art facility in Panoli, India, as part of the company’s long-term commitment to supply and develop products specific to the composites industry.
Virantage® polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) is a higher-performing amorphous sulfone polymer that delivers thermal performance similar to PESU along with better chemical resistance and impact toughness that is six times higher than PESU.
Virantage® dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS) is an ultra high purity monomer that serves as a key ingredient in the production of sulfone polymer-based tougheners.
Virantage® diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) is manufactured using DCDPS and is widely recognized as the hardener of choice for high-performance epoxies needing superior thermal and environmental properties.
Ultra Polymers
Virantage® polyamide-imide (PAI) is a reactive pre-polymer widely recognized for providing excellent adhesion to carbon, glass and aramid fibers as well as metals. This high-temperature material retains its outstanding cohesive and adhesive properties even under highly aggressive thermal and oxidative conditions.
Virantage® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a semi-crystalline polymer that offers outstanding chemical resistance for both thermoplastic and thermoset composite systems. Its proven long-term thermal and mechanical stability makes it an important addition to the traditional set of composite materials.
Virantage® polyphenylene (PPH) is an amorphous polymer developed for use in specialty composites applications. Its unique, fully aromatic molecular architecture provides unmatched strength and stiffness combined with excellent chemical resistance, abrasion resistance and inherent flame retardant properties.
New Production Site for Polyethersulfone
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Solvay Advanced Polymers is relocating its PESU production to its state-of-the-art facility in Panoli, India, creating a dedicated world-scale production unit. This move underscores Solvay’s strategic, long-term commitment to supply and develop products tailored to the unique requirements of the composites industry.
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As part of the transition, the Radel® trade name will no longer be used for Solvay’s PESU products. Instead, the Virantage® tradename and new grade nomenclature will be used to market composite and reactive PESU products used as composite toughening additives. More specifically, Virantage VW-10200 RP will replace Radel A-105P and will be produced to the same specification range.
Testing Shows Comparable Processing and Performance
In order to support customers during the migration, Solvay conducted a series of studies to compare the processing and performance of Radel A-105P and Virantage VW-10200 RP. Test results are reported here and show that there are no functional differences between the two reactive polyethersulfone (r-PESU) materials.
Three different composite resin formulations were prepared using Radel A-105P and Virantage VW-10200 RP as the toughening additive (see Table 2). Both materials were micronized into fine powders with 97% of the powder particles being less than 45 microns (D50 about 25 microns). Actual properties of the r-PESU materials used are reported in Table 3. Each formulation was evaluated to compare the two materials.
Neat Resin Castings
The r-PESU/epoxy adducts were then cured with either the DDS or DETA hardener to produce neat resin castings that were used for further characterization. A series of mechanical tests showed no appreciable difference between systems toughened using Radel A-105P and those toughened using Virantage VW-10200 RP (see Table 4).
The modulus of each neat resin casting was evaluated from ambient temperature up to 250°C using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). In addition, DMA testing was conducted on neat resin castings exposed to boiling water for 48 hours and on neat resin castings soaked in methyl ethyl ketone solvent for 14 days. No appreciable difference was observed between the two r-PESU products.
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