Menzolit-Fibron has introduced the materials following development work with VW and Daimler-Chrysler

Menzolit-Fibron has introduced the materials following development work with VW and Daimler-Chrysler
By David Vink

Menzolit-Fibron has launched two carbon fibre reinforced SMC products aimed at the automotive market. Carbon fibre composites have already found applications for car bodywork and functional parts using RTM or tape-laying production techniques. But with SMC, the carbon fibre’s high-performance is combined with the rational processing properties of SMC for economically viable production.

Menzolit-Fibron undertook development work with Volkswagen and Daimler-Chrysler. This included the construction of a trial VW Golf vehicle using a carbon fibre reinforced SMC bonnet.

AdvancedSMC and CarbonSMC were introduced at the AVK-TV composites conference in Baden-Baden, Germany, this week. AdvancedSMC uses unidirectional, continuous carbon fibres with a small amount of chopped glass fibre to aid flow and is aimed at car body panel applications.

However, Menzolit-Fibron admits that some further optimisation is needed with AdvancedSMC to reach the required Class A surface quality, despite a marked improvement over other carbon fibre technologies. CarbonSMC uses chopped carbon fibres, and can be made into complex three-dimensional mouldings for functional parts.

The company says the products are its answer the weight-saving commitment made by the German VDA automobile industry association, to reduce fuel consumption in Germany by 25% by 2005 from the 1990 level.