Introduction

Toray Textiles Europe Limited manufactures Nylon and Polyester Peel Ply fabrics for the Composites and Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP) industry.

Our quality Peel Ply fabrics are used by manufacturers throughout Europe in the production of a wide range of products for aerospace, marine, recreational and other technical industrial applications.

Usage

Peel Ply fabrics may be used to build large composite structures or to facilitate small repairs where a clean, textured surface is desired for additional bonding and finishing operations.

Where Peel Ply fabric is used, the laminate will be smoother and will achieve a higher fibre to resin content thus increasing strength. Without Peel Ply, production of vacuum-formed laminates, especially composites made with epoxy resin / carbon fibre or Kevlar® (termed `Pre-preg’), is hardly possible. Furthermore, excellent non-skid surfaces can be obtained.

Processing

Peel Ply fabric is generally utilised as a final layer of the lamination process. It is "peeled away" after curing process is complete. Our Peel Ply fabrics are woven and dyed and can also be woven with spaced warp threads to facilitate alignment.

Nylon Peel Ply with stripes to facilitate alignment.

Non-Skid Surfaces

When a composite surface has been cured with a Peel Ply layer, a distinctive textile weave pattern will result. Peel ply fabric can be selected to give a fine, medium or rough surface impression, depending on the next process in manufacture. The rough finish has proven to be an excellent surface for applications where a non-skid feature is desirable; a fine impression is generally used for final finishing.

Summary

Many companies use Nylon and Polyester Peel Ply Fabrics where excellent processing, surface finish and release characteristics are required for production of high quality composite and GRP structures.

Customers using a wet lay-up are not concerned about the thermal stability of the peel-ply (some shrink 4% in a thermal stability test). If vacuum and baking is required, then a heat set fabric is used, typically around 1-2% shrinkage on a thermal stability test. If both operations are carried out, customers may use the heat-set fabric for both processes to save holding two peel-ply versions in stock. Widths as narrow as 6 mm can be supplied. Our fabrics are supplied slit and edge sealed to prevent fray.