Fiberset Incorporated's Glossary of Composite Terms

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HAND LAYUP
The process of placing (and working) successive plies of reinforcing material or resin-impregnated reinforcement in position on a mold by hand.

HARD TOOL
A tool made of metallics or any "hard" material that is generally impervious to damage during normal use.

HARDENER
A substance or mixture added to a plastic composition to promote or control the curing action by taking part in it. Also, a substance added to control the degree of hardness of the cured film.

HEAT-CONVERTIBLE RESIN
A thermosetting resin convertible by heat to an infusible and insoluble mass.

HEAT-DISTORTION TEMPERATURE
Temperature at which a test bar deflects a certain amount under specified temperature and a sated load.

HEAT-PRESSURE LAMINANTS
Laminants molded and cured at pressures not lower than 1000 psi.

HELICAL
Ply laid onto a mandrel at an angle, often a 45
o angle.

HET-ACID RESIN
Polyester resin with exceptional fire qualities.

HOMOGENOUS
Made up of materials which possess similar properties.

HONEYCOMB
Resin-impregnated material manufactured in, usually, hexagonal cells that serve as a core material in sandwich constructions. Honeycomb may also be metallic or polymer materials in a rigid, open structure.

HONEYCOMB CORE
Strips of paper, plastic metal, etc., joined together to form a honeycomb pattern.  Used as a lightweight core in sandwich moldings.

HOOP
Ply laid onto a mandrel at a 90
o angle.

HOOP STRESS
Circumferential stress in a cylindrically shaped part as a result of internal or external pressure.

HORIZONTAL SHEAR
Sometimes used to indicate interlaminar shear.

HOT BOND REPAIR
Repair made on a hot-patch bonding machine to cure and monitor curing. Typically includes heat and vacuum source.

HOT POT
Catalyst is mixed with the gel coat or resin in the material container prior to spraying, as opposed to internal or external gun mixing.

HUMIDITY
Moisture content of the air.

HUMIDITY, RELATIVE
The ratio of the pressure of water vapor present to the pressure of saturated water vapor at the same temperature.

HYDRAULIC PRESS
A press in which the molding force is created by the pressure exerted on a fluid.

HYBRID COMPOSITE
A composite with two or more types of reinforcing fibers.

HYBRID RESIN
What we call a modified resin. For example, we sometimes add a rubber modifier to an epoxy resin in order to achieve cured properties with a higher impact resistance.

HYDROPHOBIC
Moisture resistant capability, moisture repelling.

HYGROSCOPIC
Capable of absorbing and retaining atmospheric moisture.



Glossary Section (H) Last Updated: 7/28/00 12:20 PM