ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components has formed an agreement with Maxion Wheels to develop new lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber hybrid wheels for the luxury automotive market.
The combined technologies could generate a weight savings of up to 40% when compared to high performance forged aluminum wheels, the companies say.
‘The cooperation agreement with Maxion Wheels marks an important milestone in the development of our carbon fiber wheel technology. It shows the technological maturity we have reached and combines our innovations with the leading player in the wheel industry. Commercialization is the logical next step,’ said Dr. Jens Werner, managing director at ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components.
Based on the developments of ThyssenKrupp’s fiber braiding technology, the partners have built and tested prototypes for use on luxury cars and SUVs. Public road tests have shown that the vehicles have superior damping which leads to less vibration and road noise.
This story is reprinted from material from ThyssenKrupp, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
