Tepex dynalite from LANXESS for innovative lightweight design project
- BMBF project FuPro receives Materialica Award
- Fiber composite modular system with Tepex organic sheets
The endless fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite material Tepex dynalite from LANXESS has made a major contribution to the success of the FuPro project of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). At the international trade fair for mobility 4.0 “eMove360° Europe” in Munich, Germany, the project received the Gold Materialica Award in the “Surface & Technology” category. The abbreviation FuPro stands for “Design and process development for functionalized multi-component structures with complex hollow profiles”.
Seat back rest with structural component made from Tepex dynalite
In the research project’s innovative fiber composite modular system, organic sheets, fiber composite hollow sections and injection molding compounds were combined to form highly integrative multi-component structures. Using the case of a belt integral backrest the high application potential of the technology was demonstrated. The organic sheets used here are made from the semi-finished product Tepex dynalite 102-RG600 based on roving glass fabric and a polyamide 6 matrix. The LANXESS subsidiary Bond-Laminates in Brilon, Germany, manufactures these very lightweight yet highly resilient fiber composite semi-finished products.
The Materialica Award was already presented in 2014 and 2017 for products in which the innovation leader Tepex was used. In both cases, the corresponding components are now being employed in series production.
The FuPro project
Within FuPro, an interdisciplinary team from industry and science developed a novel technology that integrates continuous fiber composite hollow profiles into hybrid organic sheet metal injection molding structures. The project involved the Institute for Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) at Dresden Technical University and Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG as well as the companies Arburg, AUMO, DITF Denkendorf, Elring Klinger, GK Concept, gwk, Schmalz, PHP Fibers and Werkzeugbau Siegfried Hofmann.
The objective of the FuPro research project was to develop and analyze a novel, large-scale production process for multi-component structures made from complex fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) hollow profiles, organic sheets and injection molding compounds. The aim is to achieve a level of process, structural and functional integration that goes far beyond classic design methods and thus to achieve significant weight reductions in vehicle structures.
Lightweight design as a key technology
Lightweight design is a key technology that is an essential prerequisite for resource-efficient mobility. Highly integrative multi-component engineering methods – i.e. a combination of torsion- and flexurally rigid hollow profiles, flat construction elements and complex node structures – are particularly promising for the realization of highly loadable lightweight structures. In addition, the use of FRP allows the individual components to be optimized according to the force flow. Thermoplastic FRP are predestined for mass production applications in the automotive industry, since cycle times of less than one minute are usually achieved in component production.
Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors, nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accepts any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.
