Composite Stock Shapes
Various composite stock shapes produced from prepreg, such as rolled and molded rods.
What are composite stock shapes?
Produced in molds, prepreg materials are cured into various different shapes such as rods, angles, wedges, and springs. These composite stock shapes can be from a single type of prepreg (called a monolithic construction) or from different prepregs. They can even include other materials such as PTFE covers, steel cores, or rubber face sheets that enhance the targeted properties for any given application.
Norplex-Micarta’s line of rods are different from many others available on the market in that they are rolled and then molded. They are not cut from a sheet. Therefore, the laminations are generally concentric with the OD, versus sheet-ground rod which has all of the laminations in a flat plane. Rolled and molded rods exhibit much more uniform strength and stiffness when compared with sheet ground rod.
All of these composite stock shape materials are fully cured and ready for fabrication by standard stock removal processes such as punching, turning, milling, water jet cutting, and other specialized processes depending on the part geometry, complexity, and tolerance requirements.
Often used for prototype or small applications, stock shapes have the advantage of placing the reinforcement into geometries that enhance the strength and stiffness of the resulting part.
Why Norplex-Micarta’s composite stock shape materials?
Norplex-Micarta has been producing thermoset materials for more than 100 years.
Resin systems based on epoxy, phenolic, melamine, and silicone are commonly ran in our Postville, Iowa facility. These and other resin chemistries are often modified with additives to provide even more functionality for designers and engineers looking for a material solution to demanding applications. Reinforcements are even more varied. Glass, carbon, natural and synthetic reinforcements are all possible. So too are hybridization of these reinforcements in various different fabric architectures.
With an infinite amount of customization available, the options for composite materials can seem overwhelming. Norplex-Micarta has dedicated application and material development engineers to support material selection, application development, prototyping, and customization to support designers and engineers.
Sheet Ground Rods
Sheet Ground Rods are turned from bars of material from already cured sheets. When looking at a cross section, laminations are parallel. Generally, properties of sheet ground rods conform to the grade of sheet stock from which they are cut. In comparison to Rolled and Molded Rods which are produced from prepreg that has been wound around a mandrel, placed in cylindrical molds, mandrel removed and then cured under high temperature and pressure. There is no industry standard for sheet ground rods. If you require rods to an industry standard, please consider our line of rolled and molded rods.
Rolled & Molded Rods
Rolled & Molded Rods are composed of an impregnated reinforcement which has been wound around a mandrel, placed in cylindrical molds and cured under high temperature and pressure. ANSI/NEMA, NEMA, ASTM, IEC and MIL-I-24768 recognize the following grades in rod form: XX, XXX, C, CE, L, LE, G-5, G-9, G-10 and FR-4. Since these are tolerances, range of diameters, maximum warp and performance requirements to be met, this allows rolled & molded rods to have a certificate of compliance or a certificate of analysis stating that it meets the various specification.
