The aim of producing composite products was born with the idea of combining two or more materials to create a higher-performance product. The first composite samples used in the World War II for military applications and began to take its place in the world market in the 1950s.
Since then, progress has been made in development of including both reinforcement and matrix materials. Rapidly developing composite materials have entered our lives almost everywhere we touched.
Composite products are available in many sectors from construction to automotive, consumer goods to wind energy, GRP pipe production to marine, defense industry to space and aviation.
It has become a preferred material by designers, engineers and managers because of its advantages in application such as high strength, lightweight, design flexibility, dimensional stability and corrosion resistance.
Composite Materials Production in Turkey
• The use of composite materials in Turkey has begun with the production of Anadol brand car’s hood and polyester water tank,
• The composite materials which were produced by traditional hand lay-up method for many years, started to be produced with advanced technological methods after a long time,
• Today, the driving force of Turkish composite market is the GRP pipe production.
The Global Composite Materials and The Future of The Market
The future of the global composite market seems to be attractive with opportunities in transportation, construction, wind power, piping and tank, marine, consumer goods, electricity and electronics, aerospace and other areas.
The global composite materials market is expected to reach an estimated $38 billion by 2023 and it is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2018 to 2023.
The major drivers for growth in this market are increasing:
• Demand for lightweight materials in the aerospace&defense and automotive industry,
• Corrosion and chemical resistance materials demand in construction and pipe&tank industry,
• Electrical resistivity and high flame-retardant materials demand in electrical and electronics industy,
• Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the composites industry, include development of low-cost carbon fibers, high performance glass fiber, and rapid cure resin system.
Raw Materials Used in Production of Composite Materials
Composite materials are obtained by combining at least two components. Resin and fiber reinforcement.
The resin performs the function of transferring applied loads to the fibers and holds the fibers together. Fusion between resin and fiber is the most important parameter in determining the physical and mechanical properties of the composite.
The resins that are used: Polyesyer, Vinylester, Epoxy and Acrylic.
In order to obtain profiles with specific physical and mechanical properties, these two main raw materials can be added to the catalysts, pigments, mineral fillers and other additives.
Organic peroxides are among such catalysts.
Organic Peroxides: Chemicals that regulate the gel and curing of the polyester resin and the vinylester resin. OP initiates cross-linking reactions between reactive and styrene-reactive monomers.
Akpa Chemicals as An Organic Peroxides Manufacturer in the World
Akpa Chemicals has been established in 1997 and specialized in the production of organic peroxides initiators, accelerators and paint driers. Akpa performs its activities on its own factory located in Tekirdağ (1,5 hours to Istanbul) in 16.000 sqm. covered total of 55.000 sqm. area.
The facility includes laboratories, distribution area, shipping warehouses and offices besides productions lines for ketone peroxide, initiators, benzoyl peroxide, accelerators and paint driers and canisters with UN approved. It also includes safe storage facilities for peroxides under controlled temperature. Company’s head office located in Istanbul, Turkey.
Yusuf Eren Sogul
Export Area Manager
Akpa Kimya
