CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/517026
"What's coming?" is the theme: in CFRP automotive mass production, US wind energy, NASA and IACMI composites research, and more. JUNE 2015 16 CompositesWorld TRENDS AUTOMOTIVE CFRP in mass-production cars: Hyundai Intrado, BMW 7 Series "What's next?" Since the introduction of the carbon fber-intensive BMW i3 and i8, that's been the big question. There are signs that carbon fber composites will soon fnd use in two additional production cars, one a concept and the other in production. The concept car is Hyundai's (Seoul, South Korea) hydrogen-powered Intrado crossover (top photo), introduced in 2014. It wasn't until this year, however, that CW learned that the vehicle's passenger cell is fabricated, in part, by Axon Automotive (Wollaston, UK), well-known for its space-frame composite struc- tures, made using the company's Axontex system. The process employs braided carbon fber tubes, which are infused to the desired cross-section over a low-density polyethylene foam core, which expands during infu- sion to provide compression against the mold. The Axontex system for the Intrado uses Hyosung (Seoul, South Korea) Tansome H2550-12K high- strength carbon fber, vacuum-infused with Scott Bader's (Wollaston, UK) Crestapol 1250LV acrylic ther- moset resin. The passenger cell also uses Scott Bader's Crestabond adhesive to bond composite, aluminum and steel parts. For vehicles, says Axon, its Axontex system enables structural optimization by placing material where it is most needed. Further, the hollow components help save weight. Axon says it has developed and patented a high-volume manufacturing process for the produc- tion of Axontex parts and has been manufacturing passenger cells for Hyundai as the carmaker considers production plans. What's unknown is when Hyundai might put the Intrado into production. The second vehicle is in production and will enter the market: BMW's 2016 7 Series (middle and bottom photos), like the i3 and i8, uses carbon fber supplied by SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (SGL ACF, Moses Lake, WA, US) in a manufacturing process SGL calls Carbon Core. This appears to be a multi-material design (see closeup at left) that combines carbon fber composites, steel and aluminum. The new 7 Series is as much as 130 kg lighter than the 2015 version. The 7 Series car will be on display at the 2015 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 17-37. Source | BMW Source | BMW Source | Hyundai