Development of Thermoplastic Composites for Visible Parts in Automotive

Abstract

In order to reduce CO2 emissions, for the automotive industry, the most promising area of research is lightweight construction. Next to weight reduction, lightweight materials like fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (FRTC) may also improve mechanical properties of vehicle body parts. FRTCs, so-called organic sheets, have the potential for large scale series production and they can be back moulded due to the thermoplastic matrix. On the other hand high production cycle times and a poor surface quality are limiting their potential. Therefore, ITA's current research approaches these problems in two ways. Nanomodified materials and a new tool concept for heat pressing are going hand in hand and may lead to the technology's breakthrough. To reduce the cycle times of the production of FRTCs innovative and modified matrix systems are investigated. The goal of the public founded project "VarioOrgano" is to analyze the potential of these modified yarns and the tool system during the FRTC production. Moreover, the capability of these composites in visible parts in automotive applications is investigated. Therefore, the whole process chain from compounding, to melt spinning, commingling and consolidation with a heat press is investigated. This paper shows the production steps along the process chain to produce these FRTCs with focus on hybrid yarn development and production