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Automakers Drive Carbon Composites

Design News -- Long used in aircraft, strong, lightweight carbon fiber composites are still too expensive for high-volume, mainstream automotive manufacturing. Although volumes can't be manufactured fast enough to amortize their high materials cost, automakers are tempted: Carbon composites offer weight savings of 30 percent to 40 percent over metals. So composite manufacturers, often partnering with automakers, are working on lower-cost materials, processes better suited to high-volume manufacturing, and fabrication methods to cope with complex shapes.

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Submitted Sep 14, 2012 By: doeslayersr

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,623 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 11:01:03 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse another plastic bomber debacle waiting to happen?
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,998 Points:597,735 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 5:55:28 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
jbrad4 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:801 Points:475,545 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 10:41:58 AM Ignore jbrad4 Report Abuse Carbon composites are stronger and lighter than a lot of metals, but they have to get the costs down.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,011 Points:2,345,510 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 9:01:00 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Produce vehicles with lighter frames, body’s and components – using carbon fiber, titanium, plastics or other light weight and strong materials. Lighter Weight –> Higher MPG! As high MPG vehicles are produced, the price for those vehicles will increase. High MPG vehicles, high vehicle price, high liquid fuel cost from Big Oil (not as much fuel is produced and Big Oil wants to maintain their profit income). Low MPG vehicles, low vehicle cost, high liquid fuel cost (Big Oil still maintains their profit income). Lighter EV vehicles, higher vehicle range and distance, smaller battery capacity needed, less electricity needed to fully charge that EV battery. Who knows what the local electrical utility will charge for an EV or Inbred that is recharged from the grid when there are more and more of them recharging at the same time. ALL auto or personal batteries will be REUSED or RECYCLED, they will not be thrown away into a land fill OR placed in storage and piled up! If more CNG vehicles are produced or more vehicles are converted to natural gas, more and more natural gas is used so expect that fuel to rise in price too. Lighter CNG vehicles, more distance for the same amount of fuel, expect higher fuel costs later. Improved light weight, high MPG, driverless vehicles to reduce the accident and death rates. Watch for sharp needles when the carbon fiber disintegrates and absorbs the force of the impact – spray with glue or other similar products to contain the fibers from inhalation or contact. Very sharp carbon fiber needles can pierce the skin without you knowing it. There are 'repair patches' available for repair areas as in the case of the lightweight 'plastic tank' which has carbon fiber and plastic too. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, has a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
Wizrd03 Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,152 Points:1,632,335 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 7:56:50 AM Ignore Wizrd03 Report Abuse Try and fix it after an accident, the insurance companies will be totaling a lot of cars and your insurance rates will more than offset the savings in gas.
yardslave Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,555 Points:596,805 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 6:05:23 AM Ignore yardslave Report Abuse Repost from yesterday...
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,078 Points:797,150 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 1:31:52 AM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse It will push the price up too much.
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,987 Points:1,112,310 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:26:29 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse The higher the price tag on cars the fewer the buyers...
unicornpmb Champion Author Buffalo Posts:8,491 Points:1,629,515 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:24:21 PM Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse Good, but costly.
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,985 Points:2,526,335 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:22:39 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse can't afford one
chuckhermann All-Star Author New York Posts:957 Points:498,975 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:14:59 PM Ignore chuckhermann Report Abuse Lighter cars would have a huge impact on fuel economy. Its just hard to get people to spend more $$ up front and save more over the life of the car, especially if people are leasing a new car every 3 years.
heydano67 Champion Author California Posts:1,666 Points:358,410 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:14:53 PM Ignore heydano67 Report Abuse Sounds like a way to get better mileage
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:14:45 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse this helps who?
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,570 Points:2,445,135 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:12:07 PM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse marketplace should decide, not some bureaucratic hack like a car czar.
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,079 Points:1,101,905 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:10:09 PM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse I has been over fifteen years since you could buy a four-passenger car in the US that weighed under 2000 lbs. Carbon Composites could make it happen.
pyndasky Champion Author Maryland Posts:10,000 Points:1,781,805 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:08:53 PM Ignore pyndasky Report Abuse "Carbon Composites my boy, Carbon Composites" .... doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like "Plastics my boy!"
heartbroken2010 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:4,344 Points:897,535 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:08:16 PM Ignore heartbroken2010 Report Abuse it is what it is.
ican2step Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,681 Points:426,650 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:07:40 PM Ignore ican2step Report Abuse Okay
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,262 Points:1,741,705 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:07:01 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse I think this is good technology.
tman70 Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,760 Points:734,050 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:06:26 PM Ignore tman70 Report Abuse Ok
SaturnSC Champion Author Columbus Posts:1,051 Points:832,600 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:04:23 PM Ignore SaturnSC Report Abuse Hmmmm
kassie1203 Champion Author California Posts:1,379 Points:254,260 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:04:04 PM Ignore kassie1203 Report Abuse ok
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,413,860 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:03:35 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Good stuff, high costs and high to repair. I don't think it is enough to offset the fuel savings.
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,538 Points:687,080 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:03:07 PM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,468 Points:662,950 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:02:50 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Great, if they can lower the cost. No subsidies!!!!!
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,297 Points:1,559,515 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:02:01 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse Collision repairs will be expensive...
Mr Tex All-Star Author Dallas Posts:872 Points:2,492,810 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:01:29 PM Ignore Mr Tex Report Abuse Does "lower-cost" mean "lower-quality"?
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,533 Points:2,773,040 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:01:09 PM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse Good
defiancegasman Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,080 Points:1,323,260 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:57:29 PM Ignore defiancegasman Report Abuse Lighter than steel, but not as forgiving in a accident!
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,359 Points:328,585 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:53:54 PM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse Carbon fiber for the mainstream is getting closer. Which is a good thing.
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,804 Points:1,843,450 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:50:20 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse Ok
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,305 Points:1,637,945 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:49:41 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse COOL!
LiquidGold2011 Sophomore Author California Posts:101 Points:202,840 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:44:47 PM Ignore LiquidGold2011 Report Abuse Eventually methods will be developed that will reduce unit cost. However, these vehicles might be more expensive to insure, as repair costs will dramatically increase after a severe accident. Nano-fiber manufacture may ultimately be the answer, and a better solution for large volume manufacture ...
humancry Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,618 Points:1,002,455 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:42:40 PM Ignore humancry Report Abuse ok
txkrb Champion Author Texas Posts:1,560 Points:638,705 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:41:31 PM Ignore txkrb Report Abuse To bonzoon: Vehicles are not yet made of carbon fiber the manufacturers are researching the possibility read the article
MDTDriver Champion Author California Posts:9,724 Points:2,155,395 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:40:35 PM Ignore MDTDriver Report Abuse It is all plastic in the end.
iamforiu Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,570 Points:710,665 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:39:32 PM Ignore iamforiu Report Abuse hmmmmm
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,782 Points:644,585 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:37:16 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse The best automobiles are made with lightweight carbon fiber composites.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,922 Points:1,574,980 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:36:41 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse interesting
steben11 Veteran Author Montreal Posts:382 Points:483,465 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:30:58 PM Ignore steben11 Report Abuse interesting
livedream Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,680 Points:754,835 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:30:42 PM Ignore livedream Report Abuse I'm more interested to read how this will impact safety in a much lighter vehicle. What are the added safety features, if any? How does it hold up in crash tests?
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,946 Points:1,182,985 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:30:39 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse Link not workong
letterchunker Champion Author Texas Posts:2,245 Points:667,675 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:30:20 PM Ignore letterchunker Report Abuse ok
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,896 Points:2,132,355 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:30:16 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse OK
bra0712 Champion Author Arizona Posts:3,660 Points:768,345 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:29:27 PM Ignore bra0712 Report Abuse Oh
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,066 Points:1,731,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:27:07 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse disappointed
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,852 Points:1,613,000 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:25:44 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse I would like to read the article but Design News has some weird setup. The link just leads to a blank page. :-(
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,227 Points:818,545 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:21:05 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse just a matter of time till it becomes reality
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,265 Points:2,265,640 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:19:37 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse ok
seahawks Champion Author Washington Posts:3,232 Points:1,964,720 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:18:41 PM Ignore seahawks Report Abuse interesting!!!