European project works to increase carbon fiber use in cars

A 4-year project brings together some of the leaders of the automotive industry plus academic institutes and even baggage OEM Samsonite to work collectively to advance composite materials processing technology and, hopefully, make it more viable for mass-production for automotive applications.

The project, called HIVOCOMP, officially launched late in 2010. Project partners include three large European automotive OEMs (VW, Daimler, Fiat), suitcase manufacturer Samsonite, four suppliers or processors of plastic composites, and six universities that are on the cutting edge of composite materials research in Europe. Samsonite has developed a range of high-end carbon fiber luggage, and the company long has been on the cutting edge of plastics processing, for example with its thermoformed polycarbonate suitcases.

HIVOCOMP is focused on furthering the development of two material systems that the project's members predict show unique promise for cost-effective high-volume production of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts: advanced polyurethane (PUR) thermoset matrix materials, and thermoplastic polypropylene (PP)-based and polyamide 6 (PA6)-based self-reinforced polymer composites with continuous carbon fiber reinforcements.

The performance, production cost and recyclability of new CFRP materials systems will be tested and benchmarked. Validated demonstration parts will be produced in 2013. The project is focused on developing these parts for passenger cars, including hybrid and fully electric platforms now entering the market, but it has identified spin-off applications in other transport-related sectors as well.

The HIVOCOMP project is funded under the topic NMP-2009-2.5-1 "Light high-performance composites" of the 7th Framework Programmed for Research and Technological Development. Project coordinator is Ignaas Verpoest, a professor at Belgium's Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Project partners are VW, Daimler, the Fiat Research Center, Samsonite, K.U. Leuven, University of Leeds, University of Perugia, T.U. Munich, E.P.F. Lausanne, Fraunhofer ICT-A, Huntsman Polyurethanes, Airborne Composites, ESI Group, Benteler SGL, Propex Fabrics and Bax & Willems Consulting. /Source: Plastics Today/