North American B2B Composite Material Categories & Cure Matrix
Every industrial category in CompositeMatrix™ connects 1. Verified ASTM SKUs, 2. Cross-Brand Drop-In Substitutes, 3. Mandatory Companion Catalysts/Hardeners & DOT Hazmat Segregation, and 4. Finished Structures & Fabrication Processes (VIP, RTM, Autoclave)—putting all 152 SKUs within two clicks of the homepage.
Marine & Novolac Vinyl Ester Resins
Bisphenol-A and Epoxy Novolac Vinyl Ester thermoset matrices engineered for high hydrolysis resistance, blister prevention below the waterline, and high-temperature chemical storage.
MANDATORY CURE SYSTEM: Requires 1.25% to 2.0% MEKP (UN3105) or Cumene Hydroperoxide (CHP) for low-exotherm thick laminates. Never mix Cobalt promoter directly with MEKP.
Bisphenol-A VE group: Interplastic CoREZYN CORVE8100 ↔ INEOS Derakane 411-350 ↔ AOC Vipel F085 ↔ Polynt Reichhold Dion 9100. Novolac high-HDT group: Derakane Signia 470-300 ↔ AOC Vipel F010-SER.
Methods: Vacuum Infusion (VIP / VARTM), Closed-Mold RTM Light, Hand Layup / Spray-Up, Filament Winding
Parts: Offshore Planing Yacht Hulls & Skin Coat, Naval Minehunter Stringer Grids & Transoms, Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Scrubber Pipes
Structural Infusion & Laminating Epoxy Systems
Low-viscosity Bisphenol-A/F and cycloaliphatic epoxy systems delivering ultra-low cure shrinkage (<1.5%), superior fatigue life with carbon fiber, and DNV-GL / Lloyd's certification.
STOICHIOMETRIC RATIO CRITICAL: Must be weighed strictly at manufacturer mix ratio (e.g., 100:28 or 100:34 by weight) with matched Amine Hardener. Requires post-cure at 60–80°C for full Tg.
DNV-GL Infusion group: Gurit Prime 37 ↔ Hexion EPIKOTE MGS RIMR 135 ↔ Huntsman Araldite LY 1564 / Aradur 22962 ↔ Sicomin SR 8100. Marine Wet-Layup group: West System 105 ↔ PRO-SET LAM-125.
Methods: Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM), Resin Film Infusion, Wet Layup + Vacuum Bag Debulk, High-Pressure RTM
Parts: America's Cup & Offshore Racing Yacht Hulls, Multi-Megawatt Wind Turbine Rotor Blades, Aerospace Radomes & UAV Wing Spars
Isophthalic & DCPD Marine Polyester Resins
High-volume structural Isophthalic and low-print DCPD unsaturated polyester resins for production boatbuilding, decks, superstructures, and industrial fiberglass molding.
Catalyze with 1.25%–2.0% MEKP (UN3105) at 25°C shop ambient temperature. Compatible with styrene monomer Wax Solution (Mod C) for topcoat air-dry cure.
Interplastic CoREZYN Iso-DCPD ↔ Polynt Stypol 040-8086 ↔ AOC Synolite 8388-N-1.
Methods: Open-Mold Chopper Gun Spray-Up, Hand Layup, Closed-Mold Deck Infusion
Parts: Center-Console Fishing Boat Decks & Liners, RV Exterior Fiberglass Sidewalls, Architectural FRP Domes & Cooling Tower Panels
MEKP Peroxide Initiators, Amine Hardeners & Cure Promoters
Essential chemical initiators, organic peroxides, and stoichiometric amine hardeners required to cross-link Vinyl Ester, Polyester, and Epoxy resin matrices.
HAZMAT SEGREGATION RULE: Organic Peroxides (Class 5.2 UN3105) must be shipped and stored in isolated cabinets away from Cobalt/Amine promoters to prevent self-accelerating decomposition.
Standard MEKP group: United Initiators Norox MEKP-925H (Low-Hydrogen Peroxide for Vinyl Ester) ↔ Nouryon Cadox L-50a ↔ Arkema Luperox DDM-9. Low-exotherm group: Norox CHP (Cumene Hydroperoxide).
Methods: Metered Catalyst Dispenser, Chopper Gun Internal/External Mix, Vacuum Infusion Degassed Batch Mixing
Parts: Cross-Linked Vinyl Ester & Polyester Hull Laminates, Blister-Free Marine Gelcoat Barrier Coats, Post-Cured Aerospace & Wind Epoxy Structures
Carbon Fiber Fabrics (3K / 6K / 12K), Spread-Tow & Prepregs
High-modulus PAN-based woven 2x2 twill, plain weave, non-crimp biaxial, and unidirectional carbon reinforcements for aerospace, defense, motorsport, and racing yachts.
SIZE COMPATIBILITY: Use Epoxy-compatible silane sizing with Structural Epoxy Resins (approx. 55:45 fiber-to-resin weight ratio in vacuum infusion). ITAR/EAR export screening applies.
3K 200 gsm group: Hexcel HexForce 282 3K ↔ Chomarat C-WEAVE 200T 3K ↔ Toray T300 3K Twill. 12K High-Strength UD/Biax group: Toray Torayca T700S 12K ↔ Teijin Tenax E HTA40 ↔ Vectorply C-BX 1200.
Methods: Vacuum Infusion (VIP), Prepreg Autoclave Cure (120–180 °C), Out-of-Autoclave (OOA) Vacuum Bagging
Parts: Aerospace Fuselage Fairings & eVTOL Rotors, Defense UAV Wings & Satellite Reflectors, Offshore Racing Yacht Masts, Booms & Foils
E-Glass / E-CR Stitched Multiaxials (1708 / 1808) & Kevlar Hybrids
Corrosion-resistant boron-free Advantex E-CR glass and stitched biaxial/quadraxial fabrics engineered for rapid wet-out in marine hulls, stringers, and corrosion tanks.
RESIN DEMAND FORMULA: 1708 Biaxial (25.5 oz/yd² total) absorbs ~0.95 kg of Vinyl Ester resin per m² per ply in hand layup, or ~0.68 kg/m² per ply under vacuum infusion.
1708 Biaxial group: Vectorply E-BXM 1708 ↔ Owens Corning Knytex DBM 1708 ↔ Saertex U-E-868g. Quadraxial group: Vectorply E-QX 2400 ↔ Chomarat Rovicore.
Methods: Vacuum Infusion (VIP), Hand Layup & Roller Consolidation, Pultrusion & Filament Winding
Parts: Sportfishing & Patrol Boat Hull Laminates, Fiberglass Bridge Decks & Pultruded I-Beams, Ballistic & Abrasion-Resistant Kevlar/E-Glass Canoe & Patrol Hulls
Structural Sandwich Cores (PVC, SAN, PET Foam & End-Grain Balsa)
Closed-cell cross-linked PVC, high-elongation SAN polymer foams, recyclable PET cores, and kiln-dried end-grain balsa engineered to maximize flexural stiffness-to-weight ratio.
CORE BEDDING & RESIN UPTAKE: Grid-scored (GS) or grooved/perforated (GP) sheets require ~0.55 kg/m² extra resin for kerf/groove filling or a dedicated structural core-bonding putty.
80–100 kg/m³ Marine Foam group: Diab Divinycell H80 / H100 ↔ Gurit Corecell M80 / M100 (SAN) ↔ 3A Composites Airex C70.75 / T92 PET. High-Compression Transom group: 3A Baltek SB.100 Balsa ↔ Coosa Bluewater 26.
Methods: Vacuum Infusion (Grooved & Perforated / Grid-Scored), Vacuum Bag Core-Bonding, Prepreg Sandwich Co-Curing
Parts: Offshore Catamaran Hull Bottoms & Slamming Zones, Outboard Motor Transoms & Bulkheads, Wind Turbine Blade Shear Webs & Nacelles
Marine ISO/NPG Gelcoats, Structural Bonding Pastes & Mold Releases
UV-stabilized ISO/NPG marine gelcoats, vinyl ester barrier coats, methacrylate structural adhesives (Plexus), core-bonding putties, and semi-permanent mold release systems.
GELCOAT THICKNESS & CURE: Spray at 18–22 mils (450–550 microns) wet film thickness using 1.8% low-water MEKP. Must reach tack-free cure before applying skin-coat laminate.
Marine ISO/NPG Gelcoat group: HK Research MaxGuard NP ↔ Polynt CCP Armorcote ↔ Interplastic Silmar. Structural Methacrylate Adhesive group: ITW Plexus MA530 / MA590 ↔ Scott Bader Crestabond M1-20.
Methods: HVLP / Airless Gelcoat Spray, Pneumatic Cartridge / Bulk Meter-Mix Dispensing, CNC Composite Plug & Master Tooling
Parts: High-Gloss Yacht Hulls & Non-Skid Decks, Hull-to-Deck Structural Flange Bonds, Class-A Production Fiberglass Molds
Vacuum Infusion Films, Peel Ply, Flow Media, Breathers & Sealant Tapes
Process consumables engineered for leak-free vacuum bagging, autoclave prepreg curing up to 204°C, and controlled resin wave progression during VIP/VARTM.
COMPLETE INFUSION STACK: Laminate → Peel Ply (85 gsm Nylon) → Perforated Release Film → HDPE Spiral Flow Media → Spiral Tubing & Omega Channels → Butyl Tacky Tape → Nylon Vacuum Film.
Vacuum Bagging Film group: Airtech Wrightlon 5400 / 7400 ↔ Diatex VacPak NBF-540 ↔ Richmond Aerovac. Sealant Tape group: Airtech GS-213-3 ↔ General Sealants GS#43MR.
Methods: Vacuum Infusion (VIP / VARTM), Autoclave Prepreg Cure, Out-of-Autoclave Vacuum Debulk
Parts: Void-Free Infused Yacht Hulls (<1% Void Content), Autoclave Aerospace Carbon Panels, Wind Blade Spar Caps