Toray Announce New Superior Structural Resin System for Formula 1, Motorsport, and High-End Automotive Market

Morgan Hill, California, Nov 13, 2019—Toray Advanced Composites today announces the release of Toray TC346, a superior new prepreg resin system engineered to satisfy the rigorous demands of the high-end automotive and motorsport market.

For over 30 years, Toray Advanced Composites has remained a trusted provider of high performance structural and tooling materials to the high-end motorsports market. The proprietary new TC346 resin system complements the existing portfolio of products available from Toray and provides a new flagship structural composite material for applications that demand exceptional mechanical properties, while still being user friendly and easy to process.

The Toray TC346 resin system sets itself apart by having the highest combined Tg (>200°C) and high temperature mechanical property retention available for the motorsport market. In addition, it demonstrates best in class elevated temperature dry (ETD) mechanical properties including compression strength, interlaminar shear, and fracture toughness. The superior surface finish is a perfect fit for parts that need to be structurally tough but maintain an aesthetic appeal, and the controlled flow system simplifies the lay-up and cure processes making it easy to handle during production.

Evaluations from key motorsport customers indicates strong market adoption, “TC346 has successfully completed qualification to support a number of key applications for the most demanding composite products in F1. This product is now the highest performing product showing high mechanical performance in all areas including Compression, ILSS, G1C, Tg, and Flexural. This product supports applications in gearbox, suspension, pylons, wings, and crash structures to name but a few,” states Graham Roberts, F1 Business Development Manager.

Toray TC346 was designed with ease of production in mind. Excellent out life and storage life, flexible cure cycles, and good handling/tack/drape characteristics will make this product a fast first choice in the market. TC346 can be manufactured as uni-directional tape or fabric in a large variety of weights and fibers.