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Topics Covered
Background
Automotive Applications
Using Carbon Fibre Reinforcements
Car Manufacturers Using
Carbon Fibre Components
Carbon Fibre Parts in
Automotive Applications
Carbon Fibre Reinforcements for
Automotive Applications
Background
Sigmatex is a world leader in converting carbon fibre,
producing technical
textiles for use in composite applications. Having expertise in this field
since 1972, we have grown rapidly to meet ever increasing demands for our
Products and Services
Using advanced technologies, Sigmatex
creates textile solutions which optimise the performance of carbon
fibre in complex structures. Our key products are woven, unidirectional, mutiaxial and 3-dimensional textiles. Sigmatex
manufactures carbon fibre reinforcements for demanding applications.
As consumers look to lighter and lighter cars, not just for performance but
increasingly for fuel efficiency then the utilisation of carbon fibre
reinforcements is expected to grow. Add the likely need for enabling
technologies in the design of mass production electric vehicles and carbon fibre
reinforcements will play a significant future role in volume automotive
applications.
With its significant investment in cutting edge technologies for the
manufacture of 3D carbon fibre reinforcements Sigmatex
is committed to developing materials for future applications offering endless
possibilities for automotive designers and engineers.
Automotive Applications Using Carbon Fibre
Reinforcements
From luxury sports cars to the challenging environment of the Formula 1 race
track, Sigmatex products are used to construct performance vehicles
of the highest standards.
Sigmatex fabrics help provide light weight structures that
impart strength and safety within a vehicle while saving weight, and gaining
those vital extra seconds when it counts.
Car Manufacturers Using Carbon Fibre Components
To date, there are only a limited number of car manufacturers that are using
carbon fibre components in their cars. These range from the high end niche
sports car manufacturers such as:
- Bugatti
- Koenigsegg
- Ascari
- Pagani
- Gumpert
- Mosler
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Other more main stream manufacturers that are also using carbon fibre parts
on higher volume models include:
- Porsche
- Ferrari
- Lamborghini
- BMW
- Mercedes
Carbon Fibre Parts in Automotive Applications
Formula 1 is always an early adopter of new technology. Consequently, there
is a high proprtion of a Formula 1 car that is made from carbon fibre, including
the monocoque that keeps the driver safe, to all of the body panels and
aerodynamic components, structural components such as suspension parts all the
way down to smaller items like the steering wheel.
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Some of the high end road going sports cars also use quite a high volume of
carbon fibre in their construction. Like their Formula 1 relatives, they use
carbon fibre for the strength and weight savings which translate into improved
performance. Some of the more main stream car manufacturers are also using
carbon fibre parts, in particular body panels like bonnets, doors and spoilers
as they seek to squeeze incremental performance gains from their cars. A good
example is BMW who have grafted a carbon fibre roof to their M6 coupe. This not
only reduces the overall weight of the car, but also lowers the cars' centre of
gravity which helps improve the handling.
Carbon Fibre Reinforcements for Automotive Applications
Sigmatex offers a range of carbon fibre products for automotive
applications including:
200GSM/2x2TW/M46JB 6K 50B
285GSM/5HS/M46JB 6K 50B
280GSM/5HS/T1000GB
12K 40D
280GSM/5HS/T1000GB 12K 40D & Zylon HM
93gsm/PW/High Strength
1K
200gsm/PW/High Strength 3K
200gsm/2x2TW/High Strength 3K
380GSM/2x2TW/High Strength 12K
600GSM/2x2TW/High Strength 12K
210GSM/3x1TW/High Strength 3K & KEVLAR
310GSM/-45°+45°/High Strength
12K
410GSM/-45+45/High Strength 12K
610GSM/-45+45/High Strength
12K
750GSM/-45°90°+45°/High Strength 12K
300GSM/PW-BUD/ High Strength 12K
400GSM/PW-BUD/ High Strength 12K
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Source: Sigmatex
For more information on this source, please visit Sigmatex.