[2] Manufacturers of Spread Tow Tapes include Oxeon AB, Teknomax Corp., Harmoni Industry Inc., Sakaiovex.
The flatness of STF, which comes from near absence of crimp, significantly reduces accumulation of matrix at the interlacing points and thereby the dead weight of the final composite material.
This not only reduces the weight of the final composite material product but also eliminates the print-through defects associated with post curing of the undesired matrix accumulation.
[3] Spread Tow Fabric offers the advantages of relatively lower crimp, increased smoothness and less-pronounced crossover defects.
[6] Additionally, the STF offers improved mechanical performance, thinness, draping ability and even different aesthetics compared with those produced using 1k – 6k tows.