Carbon fibre has become a popular choice on performance powerboats and foiling yachts, not just for its strength but for its looks. Dashboards, steering wheels, engine room vents and interior trim all benefit from that distinctive woven finish, and boat builders are increasingly leaving the weave exposed rather than painting over it.
The problem is that exposed carbon in an interior also needs to meet fire safety requirements, and until now the resins used to achieve that clarity have sometimes compromised the visual result. UK manufacturer SHD Composites has tackled that tension head-on with a new product called MTC521FR, a clear epoxy pre-preg (essentially a resin system pre-applied to carbon fibre cloth, ready for moulding) that is both fully transparent and flame retardant.
Clarity is the whole point of exposed carbon, and any cloudiness, yellowing or surface inconsistency in the resin ruins the effect of the weave. SHD says MTC521FR delivers a consistent, visually clean laminate, meaning the finished part looks as good as an unfilled cosmetic carbon component.
The fire performance is equally important for marine use. The material passes recognised international burn tests, including the same vertical flame standards used in aircraft interiors, which gives it strong credentials for use in enclosed spaces on board, from helm stations to saloon joinery.
Getting both qualities right in a single product has been the challenge. Boat builders and fitout specialists have typically had to choose between a resin that looks exceptional and one that performs in a fire, with few options that genuinely deliver on both fronts. SHD’s R&D Director Dr Alix Sauget says that combination was the driving goal behind the development of MTC521FR.
“Our customers expect premium visual performance paired with dependable processing and safety compliance. MTC521FR delivers that combination with the consistency and reliability that define SHD materials.”
For builders working on performance craft where the interior needs to impress as much as it needs to comply, this product closes a gap that previously involved compromise on one side or the other. SHD will be showing it at the SAMPE expo in Seattle later this month, 27 to 30 April. Full technical details are available in the SHD press release.
