CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/841219
JULY 2017 22 CompositesWorld WORK IN PROGRESS ยป New lightweighting solutions for the automotive industry today must meet a plethora of demands. ey must provide oppor- tunities not only for weight savings but also cost savings in the finished part. ey also require materials of reasonable cost that have the potential to be recycled. ermoplastic-based composites could fit the bill, but historically have been held back by inherent processing challenges. A novel thermoplastic composite preform technology called QEE-TECH, developed by EELCEE Ltd. (Gyeonggi-do, South Korea), and related processing equipment, offers a lightweighting solution that reportedly meets these challenges. QEE-TECH is said to enable complex 3D shaping of thermoplastic preforms. is, in turn, reduces the cost and time required for high-throughput processing of thermoplastic composites. e equipment was manufactured by a joint venture company, QEESTAR, created with Gyeonggi-do-based robotics company Robostar Co. Ltd. Automated cell manufactures and pre-impregnates continuous-fiber 3D preforms for injection/compression overmolding of parts with complex shapes, and tailored structural properties. 3D TPC structural preforming process lightens car doors in volume process To show the capabilities of the technology, which the joint venture is ramping up, EELCEE conducted a demo project with an automotive supplier, involving a car door module. Too viscous to process Processing issues have previ- ously devolved from the rela- tively high resistance to flow of thermoplastic polymers, compared to their thermoset cousins. "e high viscosity of the thermoplastic resins place severe demands on impregnation methods, and subsequent forming operations raise important issues with regard to both preform integrity and tooling," explains Queein Chang- Manson, CEO of EELCEE. In answer, the company is forming Continuous fiber only where needed The thermoplastic composite door produced using QEE-TECH 3-D preforms consists of only six parts, compared to 17 parts in the steel door. The overmolded preforms can be seen in relief, framing the door opening. Source | EELCEE By Karen Wood / Contributing Editor