Hexcel says that it will be showcasing a range of products at JEC 2019, taking place from 12-14 March in Paris, France.
These include a lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic transmission cross member produced from Hexcel HexMC-i 2000 molding compound and made using a fast compression molding process suitable for high-volume manufacture. Hexcel says that the part is comparable with aluminum versions in terms of both performance and price, is up to 35% lighter and has the potential to be a zero-waste process.
Hexcel will also showcase its new self-adhesive carbon prepreg patch technology which can help reduce the weight of an aluminum subframe by up to 50% and provide additional acoustic and vibration damping benefits.
The company will also display a hybrid side sill demonstrator developed with Volkswagen and Dresden University to address future crash test requirements, specifically for electric cars. The construction includes fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) with metal and offers weight savings, improved safety, increased energy absorption, battery protection in a crash situation and production flexibility.
This story is reprinted from material from Hexcel, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.