Composites Use in Automotive
Composites are used frequently in motorsports and lower volume, high-end/luxury vehicles, which typically favor continuous carbon fiber materials. They are also often used to fabricate exterior structures in racing vehicles, where their relative light weight provides speed and performance advantages over metals. Within mid- and high-volume production vehicles, common composite applications include glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) leaf springs, suspension components, and drive shafts, sheet molding compound (SMC) body panels and frames; bulk molding compound (BMC) housings and support structures; and injection-molded thermoplastics for bumper frames, lift gates and seat structures.
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CompPair joins NERTHUS initiative propelling mobility-focused green composites development
Central to the consortium’s efforts are the creation of fast-curing, bio-based resins for press curing, self-healing bio-based composites and demonstration of their feasibility.
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Pultruded CFRP chassis enables 36% payload increase for specialized commercial vehicles
CarbonTT’s quadraxial NCF composite chassis adds 185-kilogram capacity to Borco Höhns’ 3.5-ton Fiat Ducato market vehicle.
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Toyota invests in Interstellar, enters reuseable launch rocket market
A deepened strategic alliance with the Japanese startup will combine Toyota’s automotive expertise and Interstellar’s CFRP know-how for mass rocket production.
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SwRI announces JIP to spur H2 refueling, infrastructure tech for heavy-duty vehicles
SwRI’s H2HD REFUEL 4-year project is underway to advance H2 refueling and explore potential alternatives via system modeling, experiments and theoretical studies.
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SPE ACCE 2025 issues call for papers, sponsors and exhibitors
Submit a paper or technical presentation, or become a sponsor and/or exhibitor for SPE ACCE 2025, celebrating its 25 years Sept. 3-5 in Novi, Michigan.
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PUR composite sandwich panels for 3D automotive parts, high-volume panels and more
At its U.S. sites, Ascorium produces glass fiber/PUR 3D parts via semi-automated molding, high-volume flat panels via a continuous line while working toward bio-based PUR and recycling.
WatchKnowledge Centers
Join us for insights into advanced bonding techniques and welding processes for composite materials to ensure durability and structural integrity.
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Explore the cutting-edge composites industry, as experts delve into the materials, tooling, and manufacturing hurdles of meeting the demands of the promising advanced air mobility (AAM) market. Join us at CW Tech Days to unlock the future of efficient composites fabrication operations.
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CompositesWorld’s CW Tech Days: Infrastructure event offers a series of expert presentations on composite materials, processes and applications that should and will be considered for use in the infrastructure and construction markets.
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Latest Automotive News And Updates
On the radar: Innovations in composite battery enclosures
A look at recently reported design, material and process innovations for composites-intensive battery enclosures, developed to support the ramp-up of EV and AAM vehicles.
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DITF oriented rCF tapes target virgin fiber CFRP substitution
Infinity project developed highly oriented rCF/PA6 tapes with 88% the tensile strength, modulus of a virgin CFRP product and 49-66% reduction in global warming potential.
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New Flyer selects Hexagon Purus H2 tanks for fifth consecutive year
Type 4 tanks will continue to be supplied for the mass mobility provider’s Xcelsior Charge FC fuel cell electric transit buses.
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SPE automotive names winners for 53rd annual automotive innovation awards program
SPE’s annual Automotive Innovation Awards highlighted several composite part designs in vehicle safety, comfort and efficiency.
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SPE ACCE 2024 highlights innovation across industry, academia
SPE shares highlights, award recipients, exhibitors, speakers and more from its 2024 Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE).
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Aptera completes function test for first production-intent sEV
First initial testing of the production vehicle’s BinC composite body structure, drivetrain and battery pack demonstrates progress toward real-world validation.
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Braided thermoplastic composite H2 tanks with co-consolidated molded boss areas to fit EV battery space
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Bladder-assisted compression molding derivative produces complex, autoclave-quality automotive parts
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Composite materials, design enable challenging Corvette exterior components
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Composites reinvent transportation
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Composites reinvent automotive
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FAQ: Automotive
How are composites used in automotive structures?
Within mid- and high-volume production vehicles, common composite applications include glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) leaf springs, suspension components, and drive shafts, sheet molding compound (SMC) body panels and frames; bulk molding compound (BMC) housings and support structures; and injection-molded thermoplastics for bumper frames, lift gates and seat structures.
As electric vehicles (EV) become more prevalent on the road and in development by automotive manufacturers, new opportunities exist for composites and composite materials development. For example, a lighter-weight, composites-intensive vehicle is likely capable of driving for a longer range between charges. Battery enclosures present one large market opportunity in the EV market.
Why use composites for electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosures?
As the automotive industry rapidly electrifies its fleets, interest is growing among OEMs and battery module producers in using composite materials for battery enclosures — covers and trays that hold and protect the frames and battery cells themselves.
There are many reasons for this, including the ability to reduce mass and stack tolerances, the fact that battery enclosures are multicomponent assemblies and poor impact performance of metals. In each of these areas, composite battery enclosures offer quantifiable benefits versus metals: lower mass, higher design freedom with greater space efficiency, faster assembly, no corrosion, greater durability and — with specific formulations — better flame resistance/fire containment.
Source: Price, performance, protection: EV battery enclosures, Part 1
