Composites for large-scale manufacturing

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft -Continuous fiber-reinforced composites with thermoplastic matrix resins are very well suited for use in automotive manufacturing. However, to manufacture them is complicated. A new approach now makes it possible to use the injection molding process.

To date, it has been very laborious to manufacture fiber-reinforced composites with a thermoplastic matrix in large quantities.

Researchers have for the first time, brought a technology to production readiness that allows the series production of such continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites with an injection molding process. So far, it has only been possible to use the injection molding process for fiber-reinforced composites made of short fibers or long fibers. “Continuous fiber-reinforced composite structures with a thermoplastic matrix are becoming increasingly popular, and will be used increasingly in the automotive industry”, states Dr.-Ing. Lars Fredrik Berg, scientist and project manager at the ICT. “With the injection molding process, components that have high fiber contents by volume and therefore outstanding mechanical characteristics can be produced efficiently in high volume series”.

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