In pursuit of higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions, automakers are also looking for lighter, stronger, and more energy-efficient materials. As a new material solution, thermoplastic composites are injecting new vitality and possibilities into automotive lightweighting.
What are thermoplastic composites?
A thermoplastic composite material is a material with specific properties formed by combining two or more materials with different properties, which are heated and pressured to form a material. Generally, thermoplastic composites are composed of resin matrix (such as PPS, PEEK, PA, PC, etc.) and reinforcing materials (such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, etc.), which have the remarkable characteristics of light weight and high strength. Relying on its own material technology capabilities, NAPO has achieved good wetting of fibers and resins, and has the stable mass production capacity of thermoplastic prepreg tapes of several types of high-temperature materials such as PC, PPS, PEEK, PEKK, etc.
So how do thermoplastic composites help reduce the weight of automobiles?
Weight reduction:Thermoplastic composites have a low density ( steel = 78g cm, thermoplastic cm=11~1.6g cm), compared with traditional metal materials, it has a great lightweight advantage, which can effectively reduce the weight of the whole vehicle. Lightweight vehicles have lower energy consumption and higher fuel efficiency, which is also crucial for the improvement of the range of new energy vehicles.
Excellent strength and stiffness:Thermoplastic composites have excellent strength and stiffness (steel: 600MPa 1800MPa, NAPO PPS-CF UD: 1800 2000MPa), which can achieve thinner and lighter designs while ensuring the structural strength and safety performance of automobiles.
Availability:Thermoplastic composites have low void content and can be reprocessed and utilized, which is conducive to the recycling of materials and the sustainable use of resources. At the same time, the thermoplastic prepreg tape is easy to store and can be stored at room temperature for a long time, without freezing and low temperature.
Short molding cycles:Thermoplastic composites: 5-10 minutes, thermoset composites: more than 30 minutes, the use of thermoplastic composites can greatly improve the production efficiency of automotive parts.
These performance advantages of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic prepreg are not only in the application of automotive lightweight, but also in the application of aerospace, medical and military fields, and more applications are expected to appear.