Prepreg at a glance
Where to buy
Designation
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Designation | Prepreg |
| Class | Composites |
| Type | fibre pre-impregnated with resin |
Storage life, HexPly 8552
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tack life | 10 days at 73 °F (23 °C) |
| Out life | 30 days at 73 °F (23 °C) |
| Shelf life | 12 months at 0 °F (-18 °C), maximum, from manufacture |
| Resin content, tapes / fabrics | 33–38% / 32–42% |
Hexcel sheet (2020). Out life is the accumulated time at room temperature between removal from the freezer and cure.
Autoclave cure procedure, HexPly 8552
| Step | Instruction |
|---|---|
| 1 | Full vacuum and 15 psig |
| 2 | Heat at 3–5 °F/min to 225 °F |
| 3 | Hold at 225 °F for 30–60 min |
| 4 | Raise pressure to 85–100 psig; vent vacuum at 30 psig |
| 5 | Heat to 350 °F and hold 120 ± 10 min |
| 6 | Cool at 2–5 °F/min to 150 °F and vent |
Hexcel lists alternative cure cycles on request. A repair uses the cycle in the SRM or material specification, usually with a heat blanket and bag rather than an autoclave.
Notes from the guide
- One system’s numbers.
- Log the clock. Out time is accumulated, not reset by a return to the freezer.
Where to buy
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Sources
- Hexcel HexPly 8552 Product Data Sheet (US units, 2020) — neat resin properties, prepreg physical properties, cure procedure, storage life.
- FAA-H-8083-31B, AMT Handbook — Airframe, Volume 1 (2023), Chapter 7 — prepreg (pp. 7-8, 7-25, 7-27, 7-28).
Educational reference only. not approved data. Always consult the applicable SRM, AMM, or AC 43.13-1B and your certifying authority.