HexPly® 8552 Epoxy Matrix

Mid-Toughened, High Strength,

Damage-Resistant, Structural Epoxy Matrix

Product Data

Description
HexPly® 8552 is an amine cured, toughened epoxy resin system supplied with unidirectional or woven carbon
or glass fibers. HexPly® 8552 is recommended for structural applications requiring high strength, stiffness,
and damage tolerance. HexPly® 8552 was developed as a low flow system to operate in environments of up
to 250°F.
Features
■ Service Temperature up to 250°F
■ Impact Tolerant
■ Low Flow

Neat Resin Properties

Density 0.0470 lb/in3
Tg dry – RDS 7700 392°F
Tg wet – RDS 7700 309°F
Tensile strength 17.5 ksi
Tensile modulus 0.677 msi
Tensile strain 1.7%
Fracture toughness, K1C 1.475 ksi in
Strain energy release rate, G1C 3.88 in-lb/in2
Gel time at 350°F 13 minutes
Physical Properties

Material Description Carbon Tapes Carbon Fabrics

Prepreg % Resin content 34–38 36–42
% Flow 10–22 8–22
% Volatiles 1.0 max 1.5 max
Gel (min) 12–22 12–22
Laminate % Fiber volume 60 58

© Copyright Hexcel Corporation

® Hexcel and the Hexcel logos are registered trademarks of Hexcel Corporation, Stamford, Connecticut.
 HexPly® 8552 Epoxy Matrix Product Data

Mechanical Properties
Property Temp °F Condition AS4 IM7 A193-PW A280-5H SGP196-PW SGP370-8H
0° Tensile strength, ksi –67 Dry 276 373 111 120 142 140
0° Tensile modulus, msi –67 Dry 19.4 23.7 9.5 10.2 12.3 12.5
0° Tensile strength, ksi 77 Dry 310 395 120 127 158 147
0° Tensile modulus, msi 77 Dry 19.6 23.8 9.8 9.7 12.3 12.4
0° Tensile elongation, % 77 Dry 1.55% 1.62% – – – –
0° Tensile strength, ksi 195 Dry 293 368* 116 131 – –
0° Tensile modulus, msi 195 Dry 19.1 23.7* 9.6 10 – –
90° Tensile strength, ksi –67 Dry – 25.3 103.0 109 125 131
90° Tensile modulus, msi –67 Dry – 2.8 9.6 9.7 11.6 11.7
90° Tensile strength, ksi 77 Dry 11.7 16.1 115.0 116 137 139
90° Tensile modulus, msi 77 Dry 1.39 1.7 9.5 9.5 11.6 11.7
90° Tensile strength, ksi 200 Dry 10.9 13.3* 111.0 112 142* 130*
90° Tensile modulus, msi 200 Dry 1.22 1.5* 9.8 9.4 11.5* 11.5*
± 45 Inplane shear 77 Dry 16.6 17.4 – 15.9 18.3 14.6
± 45 Inplane shear 200 Dry 15.2 15.4* – – 15.5* 13.1*
0° Compression strength, ksi –67 Dry 230 – 139.0 – – –
0° Compression modulus, msi –67 Dry 18 – 8.7 – – –
0° Compression strength, ksi 77 Dry 222 245 128.0 134 – –
0° Compression modulus, msi 77 Dry 18.6 21.7 8.7 9.3 – –
0° Compression strength, ksi 195 Dry 184 215 110.0 109 – –
0° Compression modulus, msi 195 Dry 17.7 23.5 8.8 9.7 – –
0° Compression strength, ksi 160 Wet 203 – 102.0 – – –
0° Compression modulus, msi 160 Wet 17.0 – 8.6 – – –
0° Compression strength, ksi 195 Wet 184 – 85.0 74 – –
0° Compression modulus, msi 195 Wet 18.1 – – 9.9 – –
Fill compression strength, ksi –67 Dry – – 127.0 150 124 132
Fill compression modulus, msi –67 Dry – – 8.7 9.2 – –
Fill compression strength, ksi 77 Dry – 44.2 127.0 129 116 121
Fill compression modulus, msi 77 Dry – 1.82 9.0 9.1 10.4 10.5
Fill compression strength, ksi 195 Dry – 32.8* 114.0 – 103* 96*
Fill compression modulus, msi 195 Dry – 1.57* 8.9 – 10.6* 10.5*
Fill compression strength, ksi 77 Wet – 34.2 116.0 – 95 94
Fill compression strength, ksi 160 Wet – 24.6** 101.0 – 81** 88**
Fill compression strength, ksi 195 Wet – – 87.0 – 87* –
Compression after impact, ksi
after 500 in-in-lb/in impact 77 Dry 50 – – – – –
after 1,500 in-in-lb/in impact 77 Dry 32 34 – – – –
after 2,000 in-in-lb/in impact 77 Dry 28 – – – – –
after 2,500 in-in-lb/in impact 77 Dry 27 – – – – –
Bold – 200° Bold* – 220° Bold** – 180°
Mid-Toughened, High Strength, Damage-Resistant, Structural Epoxy Matrix

Mechanical Properties
Property Temp °F Condition AS4 IM7 A193-PW A280-5H SGP196-PW SGP370-8H
0° Short beam shear, ksi –67 Dry 23.8 – 14.6 – – –
0° Short beam shear, ksi 77 Dry 18.5 19.9 12.2 11.4 12.7 13
0° Short beam shear, ksi 195 Dry 14.7 13.6* 10.2 6.9 10* 10.8*
0° Short beam shear, ksi 77 Wet 16.9 16.7 10.9 10 11.6 12.1
0° Short beam shear, ksi 160 Wet 12.2 11.6** 10.4 – 8.8** 9.1**
0° Short beam shear, ksi 195 Wet 11.3 – 8.5 – – –
Fill short beam shear, ksi –67 Dry – – 10.8 13.7 – –
Fill short beam shear, ksi 77 Dry – – 11.8 11.7 – –
Fill short beam shear, ksi 195 Dry – – 10.2 – – –
Fill short beam shear, ksi 77 Wet – – 11.4 – – –
Fill short beam shear, ksi 195 Wet – – 8.5 – – –
0° Flexural strength, ksi 77 Dry 274 270 – 150 165 164
0° Flexural modulus, msi 77 Dry 18.4 22 – 8.5 11.1 10.8
Quasi-Isotropic 25/50/25
Tensile strength, ksi 77 Dry 107 – – – – –
OHT strength, ksi 77 Dry 63.5 62.1 – 51 56.7 58.3
OHC strength, ksi 78 Dry – 48.8 – 53.7 52.1 49.2
CAI strength, ksi 77 Dry 34.6 31 – 40.8 42.5 40
CBI strength, ksi 77 Dry 91.2 – – 76.3 – –
Bold – 200° Bold* – 220° Bold** – 180°

Cure Cycle Cure Procedure

400
Temp
Autoclave
Hold 120 +
– 10 min
350 Pressure 1. Apply full vacuum and 15 psig pressure.
Temperature °F and Pressure (psig)

Vacuum
300
3–5ºF/min
2. Heat at 3–5°F/minute to 225°F.
250
Hold
30–60 min Cool-down
3. Hold at 225°F for 30–60 minutes.
225ºF 2–5ºF/min
4. Raise pressure to 85–100 psig;
200 Heat-up
3–5ºF/min
vent vacuum when pressure reaches 30 psig.
150 5. Raise temperature to 350°F at 3–5°F/minute.
100 6. Hold at 350°F for 120 ± 10 minutes.
50
Full vacuum
Vent vacuum when
7. Cool at 2–5°F to 150°F and vent pressure.
pressure reaches 30 psig
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Time (min)

Alternative cure cycles available upon request.

Handling and Safety Precautions
Hexcel recommends that customers observe established precautions for handling resins and fine fibrous materials. Operators working with
this product should wear clean, impervious gloves to reduce the possibility of skin contact and to prevent contamination of the material.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) have been prepared for all Hexcel products and are available to company safety officers on request
from the nearest Hexcel Sales Office.
 HexPly® 8552 Epoxy Matrix Product Data

Storage
HexPly® 8552 prepreg should be sealed in a polyethylene bag and refrigerated, preferably below 32°F. Following
removal from refrigerated source, allow the prepreg to reach room temperature before opening the polyethylene
bag to prevent moisture condensation.
Shelf Life
12 months at 0°F
10 days at 70°F
Shipping
Prepreg is generally shipped in a sealed polyethylene in refrigerated transportation or in containers with dry ice.
Disposal of Scrap
Disposal of this material should be in a secure landfill in accordance with state and federal regulations.

Important
Hexcel Corporation believes, in good faith, that the technical data and other information provided herein is materially accurate as of the
date this document is prepared. Hexcel reserves the right to modify such information at any time. The performance values in this data
sheet are considered representative but do not and should not constitute specification minima. The only obligations of Hexcel, including
warranties, if any, will be set forth in a contract signed by Hexcel or in Hexcel's then current standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as set
forth on the back of Hexcel's Order Acknowledgement.

For more information

Hexcel is a leading worldwide supplier of composite materials to aerospace and other demanding industries.
Our comprehensive product range includes:
■ Carbon Fiber ■ Structural Film Adhesives
■ RTM Materials ■ Honeycomb Sandwich Panels
■ Honeycomb Cores ■ Engineered Core
■ Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics ■ Reinforced Fabrics
■ Carbon, Glass, Aramid and Hybrid Prepregs

For US quotes, orders and product information call toll-free 1-800-688-7734. For other worldwide sales office
telephone numbers and a full address list please click here: http://www.hexcel.com/contact/salesoffices.
December 2007