NMS 125/1 Rev C AS4 12k Unitape, January 29, 2026

Document No.: NMS 125/1 Revision C, January 29, 2026

NCAMP Material Specification

This specification is generated and maintained in accordance with NCAMP Standard Operating Procedures, NSP 100

High Performance, Low Melt Polyaryletherketone (LMPAEK) Thermoplastic VICTREX LMPAEK™UDT, Hexcel AS4 12k Unidirectional 143 gsm 34% RC, Type 34, Class 1, Form 1, Grade 143

Prepared by: Royal Lovingfoss (NCAMP/NIAR), Michelle Man (NCAMP/NIAR)

Reviewed by: John Tomblin (NIAR), Chris Myslinski (Victrex) Robert Mazzella (Victrex), James Myers (Victrex), Kalon Lasater (TxV Aero), Claire Steggall-Murphy (TxV Aero), Peter Levesque (TxV Aero), Stuart Green (Victrex), Ed Hooper (NCAMP AER), Ric Abbott (NCAMP AER), Carl Williams (NCAMP AER).

REVISIONS:
Rev	By	Date	Pages Revised or Added
N/C	Michelle Man	10/09/2020	Document Initial Release
A	Michelle Man	02/25/2021	Only one line will be qualified. QPL updated.
B	Michelle Man	11/18/2022	Updated spec limit requirements for Table 1, 2 and 3 Updated test methods for obtaining RC and FAW in Table 1 Added OHC to Table 3 as an option for meeting laminate compression properties
C	Michelle Man	01/29/2022	Table 1: DSC limits updated based on supplier data Table 2: CPT and FV updated to theoretically calculated limits, RC updated to include supplier data, and DSC limits updated based on supplier data Table 3: removed an incorrectly referenced footnote

1. SCOPE:

1.1 - Form:

This detail specification along with the base specification NMS 125 establishes the requirements for continuous unidirectional carbon fiber impregnated with a Low Melt Polyaryletherketone (LMPAEK™) thermoplastic polymer (“unidirectional tape prepreg”).

This detail specification follows the table numbering scheme of the base specification. It contains additional or superseding requirements. The base specification shall govern where no additional requirement is specified; in such cases, the applicable sections are omitted from this detail specification.

1.2 - Classification:

All products qualified to this detial specification have the following classification: Type 34, Class 1, Form 1, Grade 143

2. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Table 1 - Prepreg Physical and Chemical Properties (Class 1)
Property	Test Method⁽¹⁾	Number of Replicates	Requirements⁽³⁾
Resin/Polymer Content	ASTM D3171 Proc B	Each Batch⁽²⁾	34±3% ind. 34±3% avg.
Fiber Areal Weight	ASTM D3529	Each Batch⁽²⁾	143±7 gsm ind. 143±5 gsm avg.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry Melt Temp. (Peak) Hot Crystallization Temp. (Peak)	ASTM D3418 or SACMA SRM 25R-94	Each Batch⁽²⁾	563.0 to 599.0 ºF, avg.⁽⁴⁾ 446.0 to 514.0 ºF, avg.⁽⁴⁾

⁽¹⁾ Specific procedures should be identical to those used in the original material qualification program.

⁽²⁾ Three specimens minimum should be taken for each prepreg batch.

⁽³⁾ “ind.” refers to individual measurements. “avg.” refers to the average measurements per roll.

⁽⁴⁾ Limits were established based on supplier data.

2.1 - Constituent Material Requirements:

2.1.1 - Reinforcement

The carbon fiber tow product manufacturer shall establish control factors which will yield product meeting the technical requirements of this specification. The factors which are used in the production of fiber tow used in the prepreg material qualification shall constitute the approved factors; they shall be used for manufacturing production carbon fiber tow product. Control factors are Controlled Process Equipment and Controlled Process Parameters for producing the product. Control factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

PAN Precursor formulation (raw ingredients and ratios),
PAN Precursor manufacturing process, equipment, line, or site,
PAN Precursor acceptance requirements,
Carbon fiber tow processing parameters (e.g. temperature and speed),
Carbon fiber tow manufacturing equipment, line, or site,
Carbon fiber tow acceptance requirements,
Carbon fiber tow acceptance test methods,
Carbon fiber tow acceptance sampling plan,
Carbon fiber tow surface treatment methods and levels,
Carbon fiber tow sizing formulation and sizing level, and
Carbon fiber tow sizing application and drying methods, including equipment.

If it is necessary to make any change in the above control factors, the carbon fiber tow product manufacturer shall submit for re-approval to NCAMP through the prepreg manufacturer in accordance with NRP 101 Prepreg Process Control Document (PCD) Preparation and Maintenance Guide. NRP 102 Polyacrylonitrile-based Carbon Fiber Process Control Document (PCD) Preparation and Maintenance Guide may be used as a reference. The change shall not be incorporated prior to the receipt of re-approval notice, typically in the form of a signed Advanced Change Notice (ACN).

2.1.2 - Matrix

The thermoplastic polymer used to manufacture the prepreg must be Low Melt Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) with the commercial designation VICTREX LMPAEK™ (formerly known as VICTREX AE250). Shear viscosity measured at 752°F (400°C) is 100-200 Pa-s.

2.2 - Visual and Dimensional Requirements:

2.2.1 - Roll Characteristics

The standard width for this product is 54 mm (2.13 inches). Other widths may be supplied only if it is specifically requested by the purchaser.

2.3 - Consolidated Laminate Requirements:

2.3.1 - Consolidated Laminate Physical Properties:

Table 2 - Consolidated Laminate Physical Properties (Class 1, Form 1)
Property	Test Method⁽¹⁾	Requirements⁽²⁾
Consolidated Ply Thickness⁽³⁾	ASTM D3171	0.0048 to 0.0060 inch, avg
Laminate Density⁽⁴⁾	ASTM D792	1.407 to 1.755 g/cc, avg
Fiber Volume, by Volume⁽³⁾⁽⁶⁾	ASTM D3171	55.3 to 61.8 %, avg
Resin/Ploymer Content, by Weight⁽⁴⁾⁽⁶⁾	ASTM D3171	28 to 37 %, avg.
Void Content, by Volume⁽⁶⁾	ASTM D3171	≤ 2%, avg.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)⁽⁷⁾ Melt Temp. (Peak) Cold Crystallization Temp. (Peak) Hot Crystallization Temp. (Peak)	ASTM D3418 or SACMA SRM 25R-94	563 to 599 ºF, ind. none⁽⁵⁾ 464 to 514 ºF, ind

⁽¹⁾ Specific procedures should be identical to those used in the original material qualification program.

⁽²⁾ “ind.” refers to individual measurements. “avg.” refers to the average measurements per panel. Required only on one of the panels listed in Table 3.

⁽³⁾ Theoretical Consolidated Ply Thickness of 0.0054 in. is the nominal used for the purpose of normalization. Limits are based on theoretical RC and FAW ranges.

⁽⁴⁾ Limits computed at α=0.01 with mod CV. Qualification and supplier data was used to compute resin content limits.

⁽⁵⁾ Cold Crystallization should not be observed.

⁽⁶⁾ Method II of ASTM D3171 used. Fiber Density Nominal: 1.790 g/cc and Polymer Density Nominal: 1.285 g/cc. (Observed void content from acid digestions tests of limited population was <1%.)

⁽⁷⁾ Limits were established based on supplier data.

2.3.2 - Consolidated Laminate Mechanical Properties:

Table 3 - Consolidated Laminate Mechanical Properties (Class 1)
Property	Test Method(1)	Requirements(3)
0° Tension Strength and Modulus Room Temperature, Ambient Layup: [0]₈	ASTM D3039	Strength⁽²⁾: Min. Ind. ≥ 242.9 ksi Strength⁽²⁾: Average ≥ 285.1 ksi Modulus⁽²⁾: 17.47 to 20.72 Msi, avg.
Compression Strength and Modulus Room Temperature, Ambient Layup: [45/0/-45/90]_3S	ASTM D6641(5)	Strength⁽²⁾: Min. Ind. ≥ 66.37 ksi Strength⁽²⁾: Average ≥ 75.79 ksi Modulus⁽²⁾: 6.033 to 7.166 Msi, avg.
Open Hole Compression Strength Room Temperature, Ambient Layup: [45/0/-45/90]_4S	ASTM D6484(5)	Strength⁽²⁾: Min. Ind. ≥ 37.17 ksi Strength⁽²⁾: Average ≥ 42.45 ksi
In-Plane Shear at 0.2% offset Room Temperature, Ambient Layup: [+45/-45°]_4s	ASTM D3518	Strength⁽⁴⁾: Min. Ind. ≥ 4.165 ksi Strength⁽⁴⁾: Average ≥ 4.756 ksi Modulus⁽⁴⁾: 0.600 to 0.713 Msi, avg.

⁽¹⁾ Specific procedures should be identical to those used in the original material qualification program.

⁽²⁾ Normalize the properties to a consolidated ply thickness value of 0.0054 inch, based on theoretical nominal CPT, using the following equation:

Normalized_Value = Measured_Value x Measured_CPT / Nominal_CPT

⁽³⁾ “ind.” refers to individual measurements. “avg.” refers to the average of 5 replicates. Limits computed at α=0.01 and modified CV. All modulus range is 1000-3000 µɛ.

⁽⁴⁾ IPS properties are not normalized. Strain range for offset is 1000-3000 µɛ.

⁽⁵⁾ Either CLC or OHC needs to be completed to fulfill specification requirements. It is not necessary to complete both methods, but at least one must be done.

QUALIFIED PRODUCTS LIST
Supplier Product Designation	Supplier Name and Production Location	Date Qualified	Specification Callout⁽¹⁾
VICTREX LMPAEK™ UDT AS4-143-34	Supplier Name: Victrex, Manufacturing Ltd. Production Location: Hillhouse International, Thornton-Cleveleys Lancashire, UK FY5 4QD Line: UD2 (2” tape UD AS4 143-34)	Sept. 13, 2022	NMS 125/1 Classification callout is optional because Type 34, Class 1, Form 1, Grade 143 is the only classification allowed in this QPL.

⁽¹⁾ In accordance with NCAMP Standard Operating Procedures, NSP 100, this QPL shall not contain alternate materials/products. Additional production location may be included in the QPL only after successful equivalency demonstration and approval per NCAMP Prepreg Process Control Document (PCD) Preparation and Maintenance Guide, NRP 101.

⁽¹⁾ The proper specification callout for material procurement purpose is “NMS 125/1.” This specification is developed based on the material properties that are available publicly. The purchaser may specify additional requirements beyond those specified in this specification, especially when the purchaser has generated additional material properties beyond those available publicly or when the application requires additional requirements. The additional requirements are subject to supplier review and approval.