Hexcel reports that its carbon fiber reinformced polymer (CFRP) technology has been used in the BMW 7 Series to help save weight.
The company has supplied BMW with preforms made of unidirectional carbon prepreg set in various orientations combined with adhesive to reinforce the metal shell of the B-pillar. The prepreg is made from Hexcel’s HexPly M77 resin system that cures in 1.5 minutes at 160°C.
Hexcel has installed a fully automated production line in Austria to converts unidirectional prepreg into bidirectional preforms. The process allows prepreg plies of different weights and orientation to be combined in the same ply-book and includes automated cutting, camera-assisted ply positioning, integration of adhesive and automated packing. This production cell makes B-pillar preforms for up to 500 cars each day.
This story uses material from Hexcel, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
