Advanced Composite Tooling Materials

Our comprehensive Toray AmberTool® series of epoxy tooling prepregs are the trusted benchmark in the composites industry, delivering an unmatched reputation for reliability while producing a professional cosmetic surface finish.

The Toray AmberTool® family is exceptionally flexible to your design needs. Our prepregs cure at low temperatures to allow the production of high-quality composite tooling from low-cost master patterns. Additionally, with their excellent tack, drape, and handling characteristics, AmberTool® tooling prepregs easily fabricate into complex tool shapes.

AmberTool® flexibility expands beyond the product's abilities. We offer the tooling prepregs in a range of reinforcements, including glass and carbon, to best suit your project needs. If required, we can also provide them in roll form, precut kits, and multi-ply formats to reduce lay-up time and improve tool build efficiencies, all without impacting product out life.

And we stand by our products. Toray AmberTool® collection of composite tooling prepregs include our HX, HXR, and TC series, sold globally by a proven team of tooling experts and supported by comprehensive technical support services, including tailored training courses.

The Art and Science of Creating Quality Composite Tools

This 60-minute webinar takes you through the essential steps for designing and building a composite tool. 

Watch webinar
 

Toray AmberTool® Product Family

Toray AmberTool®

Resin

Tg (onset)**

Min cure temp

Typical cure

Out life (days)

Description

HX56 Epoxy 185°C (365°F) 40°C (104°F) 6 hours at 55°C (131°F) 60 hours Improved handleability
HX42 Epoxy 219°C (426°F) 50°C (122°F) 8 hours at 60°C (140°F) 5 Proven system for
aerospace
HX40 Epoxy 203°C (397°F) 50°C (122°F) 12 hours at 65°C (149°F) 8 Large tooling applications

Toray AmberTool® Processing Guide

Download our 24-page Toray AmberTool® composite tooling processing guide. Containing step-by-step processing information for our composite tooling prepregs.

Resources

Toray Guide to Composites—Volume One

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Frequently Asked Questions

Composite Tooling

Toray has a Toray AmberTool Processing Guide available on our website in the Resources section, under Processing Guides. Plus we have tooling experts on staff to answer any questions you may have. 

Tooling prepregs are typically chosen by first considering the Tg of the tool to ensure it is capable of withstanding the typical cure temperature of the part. Ideally, one would like to see the Tg of the tool to be at least 10°C / 50°F higher than the cure of the part.

Second, a critical factor to consider is the processing temperature of the tooling board master. Since master materials are typically low Tg, it is critical that during the initial cure of the tooling prepreg master that it stays dimensionally stable. If the tooling master has a Tg stated maximum, then one would not want to exceed this during the cure of the tooling prepreg. Also, remember that tooling prepregs must undergo a final free-standing high temperature post cure to be able to withstand multiple part cure cycles and maintain long term durability.

Another consideration is the size of the tool and the outlife of the tooling prepreg selected. The outlife must be greater than the time taken to laminate and cure the tool.

Finally, will the tool deliver the quality of parts required for the duration of the project? The Toray AmberTool® HX-series of tooling materials have delivered expected life for decades. Typically, a standard life for a composite tool is greater than 250 cycles.

Yes, tools as large as 40 meters long x 3 metres wide (130 x10 foot) wide have been fabricated with the Toray AmberTool® HX series of tooling materials. Tools may be net molded or machine finished to final part dimensions. In net molding, a solid master is prepared to the exact part shape, with allowance made for thermal expansion. From this master, the final composite tool is molded.

In higher temperature or very large tools, the final tool may represent an oversized part shape and it is then machined to the exact size. This is commonly done for high temperature tools where the final cure temperature may create CTE distortions or in very large tools where final dimensional accuracy is more critical.

It is possible to cure and consolidate the Toray AmberTool® HX-series of prepregs with vacuum only pressure, but it is not recommended.

However, its highly likely that an increase in voids will occur. These can have a detrimental effect on surface finish and tool pressure integrity. For this reason, we do not recommend non autoclave processing of these products. For further advice please contact your technical service team.

Typically, a low temperature initial cure is carried out on a tooling board master. When this method is used, to maintain dimensional accuracy it is important to minimize thermal expansion. As such, Toray AmberTool® HX-series tooling prepregs are cured initially at a low temperature on the master, then they undergo an evenly-supported post-cure to reach their ultimate Tg.

Casestudy

Industry Leading Composite Tooling Material

Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER® S-100 is a high performance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), utilizing Toray AmberTool® composite tooling prepregs.

Need more information?

Please get in touch with our tooling experts to learn more about how Toray can help you with your next tooling project.

Toray Advanced Composites UK

Toray Advanced Composites UK
Send email +44 1773 530899

Need more information?

Please get in touch with our tooling experts to learn more about how Toray can help you with your next tooling project.

Toray Advanced Composites USA

Toray Advanced Composites USA
Send email +1 (408) 465 8500

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