CompositesWorld

NOV 2017

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47 CompositesWorld.com Texturing of SMC wear surfaces was another area of focus to increase damage resistance and hide minor scratches. Previous research by Ashland showed that using different textures on SMC parts produced via identical formulation and molding condi- tions caused them to weather differently. at work, plus further input from CSP, the texture house and the toolmaker was used by Honda to select the final texture family, grain type and grain depth. Combined, the weatherable formulation, MIC pigmenta- tion and texturing eliminated the need for paint without sacri- ficing mechanical or chemical performance vs. the Gen 1 model. Furthermore, it enhances user experiences by keeping the bed looking great longer — particularly for those who haul heavy loads and/or abrasive materials. Additional work was done to ensure the SMC and D-LFT mate- rials looked good side by side. "Given that we planned to use an unpainted, multi-composite system for all show surfaces, our team spent considerable time and effort focused on appearance and marketability criteria, including the as-molded appearance, color matching the SMC and D-LFT materials — considering not just base color over time and UV exposure, but also orientation, gloss and texture effects — and overall usability," notes Ryan. Increasing customer joy Other Gen 1 design and construction details were optimized to improve overall manufacturability and assembly and to optimize vehicle mass and performance. A notable addition is the smart- phone-controllable, in-bed audio system, which features six weatherproof audio "exciters" (transducers) — two in each box's sidewall and two in the box's headboard. ese transmit vibration from the truck's audio system and turn bed walls into resonant Honda's Gen 2 Ridgeline Pickup Box speakers — another industry first. at and the Gen 2's slightly smaller in-bed trunk/cooler, make the new Ridgeline, according to Honda, the "ultimate tailgate-party vehicle." "Our end goal is delivering a product that exceeds customer expectations and maximizes the joy they experience from utilizing our products," adds Ryan. "We took great care to keep such consid- erations in mind throughout development." e Gen 2 Ridgeline pickup made its debut in May 2016. Said to offer better hauling and towing performance than its predecessor and be the market's smoothest and quietest midsize truck, it offers greater interior volume (depending on trim level) and a wider, longer, more durable bed that is stronger than competitors' beds with similar payload capacity (see photo above). And for the first time, a front-wheel-drive version is available in North America. What's next for the Ridgeline? "Lots of people are speculating about where the industry is going and how customers will use cars in 10 to 15 years," Ryan answers. "To keep maximizing value, we must keep finding the customer's value proposition." Will composites continue to play an important role? "We need to look at where composites can enable quality, safety and robustness," he adds. "You can find clues as to where we're heading by looking at the products we've already launched. Hopefully we'll be able to continue to grow these applications by finding the right fit." Tough and functional Combined, the weatherable SMC formulation, MIC pigmentation and special texturing eliminated the need for paint in the Gen 2 Ridgeline pickup box without sacrificing the mechanical and chemical performance of the Gen 1 model. Furthermore, it keeps the bed looking great longer, particularly for users who haul heavy loads and/or abrasive materials. Contributing writer Peggy Malnati covers the automotive and infrastructure beats for CW and provides communications services for plastics- and composites-industry clients. peggy@compositesworld.com

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