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www.eurocarnews.com – Audi AG – Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) are a particularly intriguing group of materials, particularly the carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). Audi already offers a number of CFRP components for the interior and the body, primarily in the R8 model family. These range all the way up to load-bearing structural elements such as the side walls and the cover for the top compartment in the R8 Spyder. In future models, Audi plans to use CFRP components manufactured using the much more efficient RTM (resin transfer molding) process in the vehicle structure. With RTM, the dried fiber fabric is first draped (formed) before being placed in a closed, heated die and injected with synthetic resin at high pressure. This ensures that the fabric is thoroughly saturated and cured under pressure and temperature. The experts at Production Technology Development have developed specialized expertise in both draping and injection, enabling them to optimize the production process in advance. The new CFRP parts will reinforce steel or aluminum components or will serve as independent components in the structure. Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic is not only around 60 percent lighter than steel, it is a designer material that allows the mechanical designers to freely define many component properties. CFRP components perform best when they are designed to absorb forces coming from a single direction. The individual layers of fiber fabric placed over top of one another in …
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