Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-07-31 Origin: Site
Vacuum infusion and resin transfer molding are widely used to produce lightweight composite parts with consistent laminate quality, lower emissions, and repeatable processing. However, successful closed-mold production depends heavily on how efficiently resin moves through the dry laminate and how well the core material maintains its thickness under pressure.
Lantor Soric is recognized as a flexible, pressure-resistant core material that combines a lightweight core with an internal resin-flow medium. For manufacturers reviewing supply costs, delivery times, specifications, or second-source options, a qualified Lantor Soric alternative can provide similar processing functions while improving purchasing flexibility.
This 2026 guide explains the main Soric product types, introduces comparable JLON Core Mat options, and outlines the tests manufacturers should complete before approving an alternative for vacuum infusion, VARTM, RTM, or Light RTM production.
Table of Contents
Soric is a polyester-based nonwoven core containing microspheres arranged as foam islands and resin-flow channels. Under vacuum or mold pressure, the structure remains sufficiently open to support resin movement while creating additional laminate thickness.
Unlike conventional hand lay-up core mat, an infusion-grade flow core is engineered for closed-mold processing. It can:
Support resin distribution through internal channels
Increase laminate thickness without using solid fiberglass throughout
Improve panel stiffness through a sandwich effect
Conform to curved or complex mold surfaces
Maintain consistent thickness under vacuum
Reduce separate flow media in suitable laminate designs
Lantor describes Soric as a combined core and flow medium for vacuum infusion and RTM. Its official range includes SF, XF, LRC, and TF, each designed for a different balance of flow, resin consumption, conformability, and surface appearance.
Manufacturers do not always evaluate an alternative because the original material has failed. Often, the goal is to strengthen the supply chain or reduce total production cost.
Common reasons include:
Qualifying a second source to reduce supply risk
Controlling material, freight, and inventory costs
Obtaining customized widths, thicknesses, or roll lengths
Shortening delivery time
Reducing minimum order requirements
Improving flow speed, resin uptake, or surface finish
Comparing suppliers before a new production program
A Soric alternative should therefore be selected as an engineering material, not simply as a lower-priced copy.
The first step is identifying which performance characteristic matters most.
Soric Type | Main Characteristic | Relative Flow | Typical Priority | Comparable JLON Type |
SF | Fine cell structure and good conformability | Medium | Curves and relatively sharp corners | JLON Core PS |
XF | Larger channels for rapid infusion | Fast | Large parts and longer flow distances | JLON Core PM |
LRC | Lower resin consumption | Limited | Minimum finished weight | JLON Core PX |
TF | Print blocking and surface improvement | Controlled | Visible or high-finish surfaces | JLON Core PT |
Lantor states that SF uses small hexagonal cells and suits relatively sharp corners; XF uses larger cells and channels for faster infusion; LRC uses narrow channels to minimize resin consumption; and TF is designed to reduce curing shrinkage patterns on the visible surface.
JLON Core PS is intended for applications requiring balanced resin flow and good drapability. It is a suitable starting point for curved marine panels, molded covers, interiors, and components with tighter geometry.
Its finer pattern supports controlled resin distribution without prioritizing maximum flow speed. This can be useful where the material must follow corners or shape transitions.
JLON Core PM is designed for faster resin flow. It can be evaluated for large panels, longer flow distances, and production situations where reducing mold-filling time is important.
Typical applications include boat decks, transportation panels, industrial covers, and large composite skins. Faster flow does not automatically guarantee better results; feed-line layout, resin viscosity, vacuum position, and gel time must still be optimized.
JLON Core PX focuses on reducing resin consumption and finished laminate weight. It is relevant for weight-sensitive parts where maximum in-plane flow is not the main requirement.
Because low-resin-consumption structures normally provide less flow capability than fast-flow grades, manufacturers should verify maximum travel distance and filling time. Larger parts may require additional resin feeds or localized flow media.
JLON Core PT is intended for applications where appearance is a priority. It can help reduce print-through and shrinkage patterns from underlying reinforcement.
It may be considered for visible marine interiors, vehicle panels, equipment covers, and other parts requiring a more uniform surface. Gelcoat, resin shrinkage, cure cycle, mold quality, and skin laminate will also affect the final appearance.
JLON currently offers PS, PM, PX, and PT ranges for corresponding SF-, XF-, LRC-, and TF-type processing requirements, with multiple thicknesses and roll formats for infusion and RTM applications.
A reliable selection begins with the part and production process—not only the product name currently being purchased.
Choose the primary target:
Faster filling
Lower resin consumption
Better surface finish
Improved drapability
Stable cured thickness
Lower total cost
Second-source qualification
Trying to maximize every characteristic with one product may lead to the wrong choice. For example, the lowest-resin-consumption option may not provide the fastest flow.
Large, flat panels usually benefit from faster-flow structures. Tight corners and complex curves require better conformability. Visible surfaces may need a print-blocking layer, while small parts may not require the same flow capability as a long marine panel.
Consider mold dimensions, maximum resin travel distance, corners, inserts, local reinforcements, thickness changes, and areas likely to trap air.
Polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy resins can have different viscosities, working times, cure profiles, and shrinkage behavior. Even two resins from the same chemical family may fill a mold at different speeds.
Record the actual resin grade, viscosity, processing temperature, gel time, vacuum level or injection pressure, reinforcement stack, and target fiber content. A material performing well with low-viscosity polyester may require a different feed strategy with a higher-viscosity epoxy.
A thicker core increases the distance between laminate skins and can improve bending stiffness, but it may also increase resin demand and finished weight. Thickness should be based on structural and dimensional requirements rather than habit.
Core mat should not automatically be treated as a substitute for structural PVC, PET, SAN, balsa, or PMI foam. For heavily loaded sandwich structures, engineers must verify shear, compression, fatigue, temperature resistance, and design safety factors.
No responsible supplier should promise a direct one-to-one replacement based only on visual appearance or nominal thickness. The alternative must be tested under the customer’s real processing conditions.
First, produce equal-sized flat panels using the same mold, reinforcement, resin batch, vacuum level, feed layout, and cure cycle.
Test Item | What to Measure |
Filling time | Time from opening the resin feed to complete wet-out |
Flow-front stability | Uniformity of resin movement |
Dry spots or voids | Location and severity of incomplete impregnation |
Resin consumption | Total resin used per square meter |
Cured thickness | Average thickness and variation |
Finished weight | Weight per unit area |
Surface print-through | Visible pattern after cure |
Handling | Cutting, positioning, draping, and stability |
After an acceptable flat-panel result, test the material in an actual production mold. This confirms performance around corners, inserts, overlaps, thickness transitions, and long flow paths.
For structural or critical parts, additional testing may include flexural properties, interlaminar shear, skin-to-core adhesion, impact resistance, water absorption, and thermal aging. Production approval should only follow acceptable process and finished-part results.
In some laminate designs, infusion core mat can reduce or eliminate separate flow mesh because its channels remain inside the finished component. This can simplify lay-up and reduce disposable materials.
However, internal channels cannot replace external flow media in every mold. Large parts, thick reinforcement stacks, high-viscosity resins, short gel times, and complex feed layouts may still require additional flow assistance.
The trial should confirm that resin reaches the furthest point before gelation, the flow front remains uniform, and removing external mesh does not increase defects. Depending on the part, the best solution may use the core alone, the core with localized mesh, or a complete external flow layer.
Infusion core mat can be evaluated for yacht decks, cabin roofs, interior panels, bulkheads, covers, and selected hull areas. It conforms to curved surfaces and can help build thickness while supporting resin distribution.
Primary structures, engine foundations, and heavily loaded hull areas require engineering confirmation before replacing structural foam.
Potential applications include body panels, EV covers, bus and truck panels, railway interiors, caravan components, and aerodynamic covers. Priorities often include weight, appearance, production speed, and dimensional consistency.
Suitable areas may include nacelles, covers, fairings, and secondary composite panels. Critical blade structures should only use materials qualified by the blade designer and applicable certification process.
Applications include equipment housings, machine covers, tanks, sanitary products, construction panels, and corrosion-resistant molded parts. These projects often prioritize cost efficiency, repeatability, and surface quality.
Before requesting a production quotation, provide:
Current Soric type and thickness
Resin system and viscosity
Part size and maximum flow distance
Existing flow-mesh arrangement
Normal filling time
Main reason for changing supplier
Priority: flow, weight, finish, or cost
Required roll width and annual volume
Required tests or industry approvals
A qualified supplier should provide technical data, samples, application recommendations, and support for side-by-side comparison.
JLON Core Mat is designed as a functional alternative for similar infusion and RTM requirements. Results depend on resin viscosity, laminate construction, temperature, flow distance, and mold design, so sample testing is required before production approval.
An XF-type material such as JLON Core PM is the starting point when rapid flow is the main priority. The complete infusion strategy must still be validated on the actual mold.
An LRC-type material such as JLON Core PX is designed for lower resin consumption. Its flow capability is more limited than a fast-flow type, so filling time and feed spacing should be checked.
A TF-type product such as JLON Core PT should be evaluated when reducing print-through is the main objective. Surface appearance also depends on gelcoat, resin shrinkage, mold quality, and cure conditions.
Infusion-grade core mat can be used with common polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy systems when compatibility and flow behavior have been verified. A process trial is particularly important for higher-viscosity resins.
JLON can provide samples for evaluation and recommend a PS, PM, PX, or PT type according to the customer’s current material, resin system, and application.
The best Lantor Soric alternative is not simply the material with the closest visual pattern or lowest price. It is the product that delivers acceptable resin flow, cured thickness, resin consumption, surface quality, finished weight, and mechanical performance in the customer’s actual process.
For curved parts and balanced flow, evaluate an SF-type solution. For faster filling and longer travel distances, consider an XF-type product. For lower resin uptake and minimum weight, test an LRC-type material. For visible surfaces and reduced print-through, evaluate a TF-type option.
JLON Composite offers PS, PM, PX, and PT Core Mat solutions for manufacturers using vacuum infusion, VARTM, RTM, and Light RTM. Send us your current product type, thickness, resin system, part dimensions, and target application to receive a recommended grade, technical data sheet, sample, and quotation.
Request a JLON Core Mat sample and start your side-by-side qualification test.
Trademark notice: Soric® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. References are used only to describe comparable application categories and do not imply affiliation, endorsement, or identical performance.
