Developments in carbon composites for high volume applications dominated the Low Carbon Conference in February. 3M, the diversified
technology company, welcomed experts ranging from academics
to OEM engineers to discuss the way forward for the automotive industry
as it faces increasing pressure from Government and the public for
reduced vehicle emissions.
The conference agenda concentrated on sustainability and included
papers on new materials and manufacturing techniques to reduce
carbon emissions. Themes covered Concepts, New Materials, Sustainability
and Adhesive Bonding and Surface Technologies.
In his keynote speech, Dr Nick Barter, chairman of SMMT Foresight
Vehicle - Britain’s prime knowledge transfer network for the automotive
industry – suggested that hydrogen power, fuel cells and their
associated infrastructures are so far away that continuing improvements
in the efficiency of the internal combustion engine, improvements
in vehicle operating efficiency (stop start engines, regenerative
braking etc) and reducing weight are the key strategic priorities in
helping reduce C02 emissions.
The former product development director for Jaguar and Land Rover stated that the eye is in the detail for combatting ’dimension creep‘, an automotive phenomenon where the size of each successive generation
of car increases due to safety and legislative issues. Such a trend has a
negative impact on vehicle weight and therefore emissions.
The conference kicked off with the TSB (Technology Strategy |
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Board) Keynote Presentation on the Government backed review on the
requirements and funding of Low Carbon Vehicle technology.
“It is clear that the need for weight reduction is driving the adoption of
materials not seen thus far in volume production vehicles,” claimed
Peter Parrott, Low Carbon Conference chairman. It’s encouraging to
see every aspect covered, from the production processes of raw materials
to end of life recycling.”
A lightweight material of choice, carbon fibre, itself a strong and
lightweight material once the preserve of motorsports upper echelons,
has never been associated with mass production. However, Cranfield
University’s novel concept hopes to change that with a Vacuum
Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding (VARTM) process. The solution uses
braided feedstock and has been validated for large vehicle structure
applications.
In line with lowering carbon emissions, bonding such lightweight
materials uses less energy than welding. A bonded aluminium body
from Jaguar highlighted this technique on the day.
End of life recycling of carbon fibre is a process under research at
Nottingham University. “The use of carbon fibre in volume automotive
applications is viable only if there is the satisfactory end of life recycling
to allow re-use without significant degradation of its material properties,”
emphasised Tom Turner, Senior Lecturer, University of Nottingham.
He went on to say that the institution is developing a low cost
automated process that can recycle waste fibre and, critically, align 90%
of the fibres within +/- 10% to create a |
