
SHD Composite Materials Ltd
About us
SHD Composite Materials are manufacturers of a wide range of tooling, component and Uni-Directional (UD) prepregs suitable for autoclave, press and oven curing. We supply advanced composite prepregs into a variety of global market sectors and applications whilst maintaining our short lead times for both high and low volumes.
A vital element of our ethos is that we offer world-class customer support to every customer of every size, which we achieve by working in close partnership with all our customers. Our team can offer you the support and technical advice you need to develop a solution using our range of materials.
With a wealth of experience in the composites industry, and manufacturing sites in the UK, EU and the USA, SHD are ideally placed to support our customers by providing high quality products, up to 1.5m wide, together with excellent service and first class technical support.
Products

MTE500
MTE500 is a new cost-efficient epoxy component system engineered for optimised performance across a broad range of applications. The hot-melt, solvent-free, resin system represents an evolution in formulation, product processing, and final prepreg format delivering a solution with superior processing versatility and exceptional visual qualities. With improved handling, 60-day outlife at 20°C and 24 months freezer storage life, MTE500 offers excellent flexibility for manufacturers whilst maintaining cost effectiveness. Key features: Improved handling Superior processing versatility and optimised performance Exceptional visual qualities 60-day outlife at 20°C and 24 months freezer storage life Solvent free Cost effective

PS200
PS200 is our revolutionary 98% bio-based resin system derived from a low-carbon source – bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane processing. Highly flame retardant, PS200 offers thermal and fire protection with continuous service possible up to 150-200°C (dry), depending on the application. Having a unique ability to cope with high pressures and rapid temperature excursions >500-1000°C, which are typical of a Lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, PS200 meets fire protection and insulation standards ISO 2685 and AC 20-135, Revised 1990. Ideal for manufacturing battery boxes, PS200 has many other applications with high abuse temperatures including brake ducts and engine covers.

LTB300
LTB300 is a 30% certified bio-based tooling system offering an excellent surface finish, curing rapidly at low temperatures, and can be delivered on short lead times. LTB300 is a novel prepreg tooling system for manufacturers who are looking for a material that is both more environmentally friendly and of equally high-performance to the incumbent systems. The resin system is tailored to 200gsm carbon fabric for the surface plies and 650gsm or 1000gsm fabrics for bulking plies to provide a conventional 1-8-1 or a more rapid 1-5-1 configuration. Tack and drape have been optimised to provide operators with a system to laminate high quality tools in record time. Initial cure temperatures of 45°C provide a tool in just 12 hours with an ultimate Tg of over 200°C achievable after post cure. Initial cure can comfortably be achieved with a rapid 8 hours at 55°C or 6 hours at 60°C.

MTB350
To help with the battle against rising energy and transportation costs, SHD’s novel MTB350 epoxy prepreg system can be stored at a typical room temperature of 20°C/68°F for up to 6 months and still maintain product life. By removing the requirement for freezing during transportation and storage, MTB350 therefore offers potential for significant associated cost savings. This unique epoxy system provides not only a clear financial saving but also an additional environmental benefit. The reduced CO₂ footprint achieved in avoiding frozen shipment and storage being coupled with a resin system formulated to include 30% certified bio-based content. Complementing the extended room temperature product life, MTB350 is a versatile component system with excellent baseline mechanical performance, service up to 140°C/284°F and the capacity to ‘snap cure’ at elevated temperatures. MTB350 has also been optimised to work well in combination with natural fibre reinforcements such as flax, providing improved handling characteristics and excellent fibre wet-out throughout the full manufacturing processing. This is another material development that underlines SHD’s continued commitment to real and tangible gains supporting the composites supply chain on its long road to Net-Zero.

Technical and Customer Support
At SHD, we specialise in the manufacture of a wide range of tooling, component and Uni-Directional (UD) prepregs suitable for autoclave, oven and press curing. A vital element of our ethos is that we offer world-class customer support to every customer of every size, which we achieve by working in close partnership with all our customers. Our team can offer you the support and technical advice and expertise at every stage of the project. Not only working to continually improve our existing range of products, but we also work to develop new and exciting products through our recognition of an industry need, and through project consortiums. Our highly experienced technical team is on hand, across the group, to provide reactive customer support. With autoclave, oven and press curing equipment available for customer support, development and prototyping, we are able to offer a comprehensive service, including fast turnaround of development trials for both internal and external projects. Our Technical Centre houses a range of material testing equipment to offer comprehensive material characterisation. We are also able to offer support for programme qualifications with full test packages.

UD
Alongside seven fabric laminating lines, we also have two Uni-Directional (UD) machines, and a third under construction. Complementing our fabric prepreg machines, we can provide a full UD offering to suit your requirements: - Carbon and glass UD - Standard widths of 300mm and 600mm, or tailorable up to 600mm on request - Weights offered from 80g-900g - Speciality fibres e.g. high-performance high modulus and pitch fibres - Available on the majority of our resin systems - Manufactured from UK and US (Tulsa) - Short lead times and low MOQs - Capacity to support large volume programmes - Standard products in stock (some stock available at smaller quantities)

MTC400-1
MTC400-1 is an epoxy resin system designed to cure between 80°C and 135°C allowing flexibility in component manufacture. It is a toughened epoxy resin system designed for component manufacturing that can be supplied on a variety of fabrics and in UD format to meet your cost and manufacturing requirements. Key Features & Benefits • Cure temperature from 80°C to 135°C • Service temperature up to 200°C after post cure • Low CTE and shrinkage • Work life at 20°C: 30 days • Storage life at -18°C: 12 months • Very low VOC content – no added solvents during manufacture • Improved toughness over MTC400

VTC401
VTC401 is an epoxy resin system designed to give an initial cure at low temperatures or snap cure at high temperatures with enhanced toughness, honeycomb bondability and higher service temperature, giving greater flexibility in component manufacture. It can be supplied on a variety of fabrics in UD format to meet your cost and manufacturing requirements. Key Features & Benefits • Cure temperature from 65°C to 140°C • Service temperature up to 120°C • Low CTE and shrinkage • Work life at 20°C: 21 days • Storage life at -18°C: 12 months • Very low VOC content – no added solvents during manufacture • Snap cure available for hot press moulding – consult SHD for details
News

SHD Composites Materials celebrates 15th year of trading with new UK campus facility
SHD celebrated its 15th year as a family owned, independent business and recently opened a new high-volume manufacturing facility on their UK campus to ensure that SHD continues to remain flexible, reactive and supportive in the future

SHD Composites Materials listed in The Sunday Times 100 Tech, Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies
SHD Composite Materials has been listed 36th in The Sunday Times 100 Tech, Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies.

SHD Composite Materials Ltd have successfully undertaken their first year of Carbon Accounting
SHD Composite Materials Ltd have successfully undertaken their first year of Carbon Accounting