Product category:
Special purpose moulding machines and systems
News Release from: Huntsman Advanced Materials | Subject: Araldite RTM at Fischer CT
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 May 2008
Resin transfer system moulds carbon
composite
Araldite resin transfer moulding system is being used by Fischer Composite Technology to produce stylish carbon composite side blade on Audi's latest high performance sports car.
Huntsman Advanced Materials said that Fischer Composite Technology, based near Salzburg, Austria, specialises in the development and production of complex carbon fibre composites for use in the automotive, aerospace and sports leisure equipment industries In a recent project for Audi AG, Fischer worked closely with Huntsman Advanced Materials using Araldite Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) and specialist bonding technologies to manufacture carbon side blades on the Audi R8 sports car
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Nov 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Measuring 900mm x 500mm, the side blade is made from two RTM shells which are later bonded together using Araldite 2015.
It is a two-component epoxy adhesive paste with a highly resilient bond.
The Araldite 2015 bond is sag resistant up to 10mm and is particularly suitable for SMC and GRP bonding applications, said Huntsman.
* Moulding technique - during the Araldite RTM process to produce the side blade, some dry pre-formed carbon fibres are put into a mould and injected with epoxy resin.
The inner shell is cast with all the fixing devices to mount the side blade on to the car already in place, so no additional auxiliary component bonding or finishing is required.
The outer shell comprises a three-layer CFK/GFK structure.
Once mounted, the visible outer side of the side blade is a 6K Twill 2/2 carbon fibre surface, protected from UV sunlight with a clear, glossy lacquer finish.
Sales and marketing manager at FCT, Gerhard Koelbl, said: "Audi AG required a ready-to-install side blade assembly with all fixing and mounting items included.
It also had to meet Class A surface finish requirements, including protection against ultra-violet and other effects of the weather".
Koelbl continued: "Working with the Araldite RTM system and Araldite 2015 adhesive, we were able to fulfil these exacting requirements in terms of appearance, precision fitting and dimensional space tolerances".
The Audi R8 is now available worldwide, and Fischer Composite Technology are currently manufacturing around 4000 sets of the side blades/year.
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