Alternative composite materials expand the CFRP horizon
Just focusing on the lightweight feature of carbon fibers is not enough for us. This material offers much more. We also utilize other outstanding properties in different fields, e.g:
- Non-corrosive concrete reinforcement
- Advanced timber structures
- Smart components, e.g. thermal management, sensor technology
- Applications in extreme environments (temperature, corrosive media/atmospheres)
One concept – infinite possibilities
The combination of fibers in various textile forms with different matrix materials and other composite partners offers abundant individually adaptable properties depending on the requirements. In this context, properties beyond reinforcement play a particularly important role:
- Corrosion resistance
- Ease of textile processing and shapes
- Strength, compression behavior and drapability - from stiff to flexible
- Electrical conductivity
R&D Examples
The flexibility of composite materials becomes obvious, when considering the wide range of applications. Examples include the reinforcement of concrete with carbon fiber rods and the increase of impact strength and adapted failure behavior in automotive and aerospace components using fiber-metal laminates.
Steel reinforced concrete is a thing of the past – carbon concrete is the future
Corrosion resistance combined with high tensile strength gives carbon fiber reinforcement a decisive advantage compared to steel. Using a thermoplastic, formable matrix for the CFRP elements offers another advantageous property, i.e. easy customization of reinforcement cages or stirrups directly on site.
Fiber-metal laminates as a bridge between metal and CFRP
A major trend in the field of high-tech materials is the transition to hybrid material systems and multi-material design to customize the properties for each application. The resulting lightweight designs go beyond the potential of a single material and thus allow new approaches to product design. For example, a sandwich material made of a thermoplastic carbon fiber composite and metal shows improved impact strength and fatigue behavior in addition to the weight savings achieved, especially in crash or cyclic load behavior.
Thermoplastic composites – A future key technology
Thermoplastic composites possess outstanding features that make them interesting for our development:
- Formability/reforming
- Impact resistance
- Recyclability
- High throughput production techniques
