The use of thermoplastic matrix systems for composite solutions is becoming increasingly popular in many markets.
The automotive industry has many requirements for the strategic use of these materials: complex geometries, high strength, high stiffness and light weight components.
As part of the Mitsui Chemicals Group, Mitsui Chemicals and ARRK are committed to developing, manufacturing, and developing applications of these materials in the automotive industry. With extensive knowledge of raw materials and long-term experience in product development, the two companies have pooled their expertise to make fiber-reinforced thermoplastics optimal for use in vehicles. At the Composite Europe 2019 trade show, interested visitors can learn about the process from material development to small batch production and get detailed information on the use of innovative materials such as unidirectional (UD) tapes to meet high-performance integration Demand for demanding components.
With the continuous development of lightweight structures, the automotive industry is increasingly becoming an innovation driver behind new developments and alternative solutions for fiber-reinforced synthetic materials. The requirements of individual OEMs are as diverse as the composite materials themselves, making the practical handling of these materials a key element of the maturity of the series. The combination of personalized, integrated product engineering, well-designed tool construction, and flexible low-volume production brings high added value to the use of fiber composites. New thermoplastic composites can also provide alternative solutions in other engineering areas, such as equipment engineering or aviation.
Composite materials, design, tools and LVP connections
The use of thermoplastic matrices for composite solutions is becoming increasingly popular in many markets. Therefore, the development of materials in the field of thermoplastic composite materials, especially carbon fibers (CFRTP), is concentrated on polar substrates such as polyamide, and non-polar polyolefin-based CFRTP (such as polypropylene) has fewer applications. However, PP-based CFRTP offers great potential for low-cost production of high-performance lightweight composites because the combination of carbon fiber and polypropylene (CF-PP) reduces density while producing higher stiffness while reducing weight , Easier for further processing, and extremely resistant to water absorption and hydrolysis.
However, these new developments are often difficult to replace the existing materials, because new composites with excellent material test results still cannot guarantee a safe process chain, no matter how innovative it is. Therefore, in their collaboration, Mitsui Chemicals and ARRK focused on the practical availability of new composite types. In addition to its long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic experience, as a material expert, Mitsui Chemicals also produces and develops CF-PP-based unidirectional reinforced thermoplastic tapes with specially developed fiber strong adhesion and modified PP matrix (TAFNEX CF-PP UD ) To provide semi-finished materials for developing innovative components.
With the assistance of ARRK Group, customers can get design, analysis, prototyping, tool manufacturing and even small batch production from a single source. The company group focuses on all services related to product development. The synergy between the two companies offers multiple ways to achieve a comprehensive solution for the entire product development process in the automotive industry.
Innovative materials can improve product characteristics, but must prove their feasibility in other aspects of the process chain and can be integrated into all production steps without any problems. Even if a composite material provides certain required properties, this does not mean that mechanical strength, stability, and processing characteristics are sufficient for mold making and part manufacturing.
As a result, the use of newly developed composites is a problem for many automakers because internal infrastructure does not always allow detailed engineering throughout the process chain. In the ARRK Group and Mitsui Chemicals cooperation project, the project has begun development. A deeper understanding of the process chain ensures successful completion of new tasks.