Highest Quality Composite Release Liners from Fox River Associates
Fox River Associates understands the critical performance requirements for paper-based composite release liners. We ensure that our composite release liners supplied are produced under tightly controlled and reproducible conditions. The silicone release coatings are cured using the thermal method. Using highly sophisticated equipment, we can replace much of the internal moisture that is lost during the silicone curing process. Fox River Associates supplies siliconized paper release liners that are targeted to a specific moisture range for optimum performance in your prepreg operation. The result is a composite release liner that helps your product appear and perform its best when it arrives at your customer.
Dimensional Stability Matters!
Dimensional stability is a critical factor when selecting the most appropriate release liner for an advanced composite application. Fox River Associates understands this and supplies paper based liners with this important feature in mind. Sourcing a composite release liner with excellent dimensional stability can make a difference in the quality of the prepreg material in your process and when it arrives at your customer. A paper release liner that has improved lay-flat properties and does not “expand” or “shrink” with changing environmental conditions will help ensure that your prepreg arrives at the customer in the best condition possible.
For more information on the full line of siliconized paper release liners for the composite market, click here, or contact our team at (800) 647-6579 or info@foxriverassociates.com.
Protect your release liner for best results!
Paper, by its very nature, acts like a sponge. Depending on the relative humidity in the surrounding environment, the release liner can absorb or emit moisture – changing its performance characteristics. Release liners are typically exposed to high-temperature conditions during the silicone coating process. Those high temperatures are required to cure the silicone coating(s) on the paper. During the high-temperature curing phase, the paper loses moisture to the surrounding environment, causing the release liner to have a moisture content that is significantly lower than the equilibrium level of the paper. This lower internal moisture content can allow the paper liner to potentially absorb moisture from the surrounding humidity in the later processes, including composite part production at your customer.
As the moisture is reabsorbed in the paper liner, the paper “grows” and the lay-flat properties can be affected. As the paper expands, the release liner dimensions can change. If this happens after the prepreg production process, the paper expansion can lead to the width of the release liner/prepreg changing and possibly leading to gaps appearing in the unidirectional prepreg material. Being able to reintroduce the proper amount of moisture back into the release liner at the end of the silicone coating process helps the paper release liner maintain its original dimensions.
Keeping the paper release liner protected in the original, moisture-protective packaging until ready to use can help minimize the amount of moisture change in the finished composite release liner in your inventory. If the entire roll is not consumed in a single run, storing the unused siliconized paper release liner in a controlled environment (humidity and temperature) will help preserve the stability of the liner.
To learn more about our how you can protect your release liners for the composite market, contact Fox River Associates at info@foxriverassociates.com or call (800) 647-6579.