Williams Advanced Engineering (Grove, UK) has published a white paper describing its proprietary, patent-pending carbon fiber composite technology and its benefits to the automotive and other industries. The company's latest pair of technologies, 223 and Racetrak, are considered a step change in composite prices.
According to the company, 223 and Racetrak offer comparable performance to existing composite solutions, but include additional advantages and cost to reach the range of mainstream applications. They are considered full-life solutions that address all aspects of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) manufacturing, use, and recycling, and the properties of carbon fiber can provide new ways for vehicle design and manufacturing.
According to the white paper, the 223 process is a cost-effective method for creating three-dimensional composite structures from two-dimensional forms, suitable for box geometries, such as battery containers for electric vehicles.
The white paper states that Racetrak is a new process for creating high-strength structural members connecting two or more points. Potential applications include automobile fork arms or link arms of aircraft landing gear.
For more information on these two processes and their applications, see the white paper published by Williams Advanced Engineering.
"Racetrak and 223 are just two examples of next-generation technologies developed and commercialized by Williams Advanced Engineering," said Iain Bomphray, chief technology expert for lightweight structures, the Williams advanced engineering innovator behind these two breakthroughs. "With this approach, we have the potential to develop new, growing areas of business, which will also make a significant contribution to the industries we work in."
"We focus on energy management, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and lightweighting. As tools for improving efficiency, these are highly synergistic, so treating them as an integrated system allows us to significantly increase overall benefits," Williams Advanced Engineering Technical director PAul McNamara explained. "While we have undoubtedly learned a lot from the success of Formula One and Formula E, they are high-profile examples of what we do. After building behind closed doors, we are solving challenging world-class companies in all industries And working with some of the most respected manufacturers to develop next-generation low-carbon technologies. "