EconCore and DPA Moldados, a Tier 1 automotive supplier, have jointly developed a composite which they say has reduced the weight of the Hyundai Creta’s boot floor by 20%.
The thermoplastic composite incorporates a sandwich panel made of polypropylene (PP) honeycomb and glass-mat thermoplastic (GMT) composite skin. The thermoplastic honeycomb is produced continuously while direct lamination of the sandwich skin layers can be integrated into the automated process in line, EconCore said.
According to the company, sandwich panels are suitable for trunk floor assemblies because they can delivery rigidity at low weight. However, given the high performance of the honeycomb structure, the use of material can be very limited.
According to Tomasz Czarnecki, COO of EconCore, the materials used can be based on partly or even fully recycled materials.
‘At the end-of-life our product, and the thermoplastic finishing carpets that automotive parts require for decorations, are recyclable,’ he said. ‘Upon molding and integration of the carpets into the sandwich structure, they are not contaminated by other materials such as polyurethanes, so at the end of product’s life, they can be disintegrated and fully recycled.’
This story uses material from EconCore, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
