TFP’s nonwovens are used in number of capacities to provide chemical resistance, prevent corrosion or to fulfil a purpose within a highly corrosive environment.
We manufacture a number of different E glass, ECR glass and carbon nonwovens which offer excellent chemical resistance and can be incorporated into composite structures to increase the service time of the component. A typical example is pipework and vessels used in the chemical industry, which have to function in a corrosive environment or transport corrosive substances. The nonwoven is used as a surfacing veil in the composite, providing a resin rich finish whilst simultaneously imparting the required functionality.
TFP’s dielectric nonwovens also provide an extremely uniform, lightweight barrier to prevent the occurrence of galvanic corrosion.
Galvanic corrosion is a common and destructive problem which occurs when two dissimilar conductive materials come into contact in the presence of an electrolyte (such as water), creating a pathway for electron transfer. In a composite context, this could mean contact between carbon composite and aluminium components or between a carbon reinforcement and aluminium honeycomb. The result of this is surface corrosion and extensive pitting. This can be very serious, particularly in instances where it is undetectable and may lead to structural failure. The issue of galvanic corrosion is not limited to aluminium, it can occur with other metals and alloys, such as steel or stainless steel, in certain environmental conditions.
Galvanic corrosion can be prevented by stopping moisture coming into contact with the carbon and aluminium simultaneously. To achieve this, the materials must be separated. This can be achieved using one of TFP’s dielectric nonwovens which act as an electrically isolating layer, providing a barrier to galvanic corrosion by preventing the electrochemical reaction.
Finally, the inherent chemically resistant nature of the glass veils make them ideal for battery applications, where they are used as separators, slip sheets, pasting papers and glass retainer mats.