BASF and Germany-based carbon company SGL Group say they have concluded joint research of a new composite material system which aims at enhancing the cost-effectiveness of manufacturing thermoplastic carbon-fiber composites, for example in injection procedures and reaction injection molding.
The composite is based on a reactive polyamide system and compatible carbon fibers. A carbon-fiber surface — or sizing — specially designed for the matrix system as well as tailored thermoplastic reactive systems mean that lightweight structural components for the automotive industry (for example) can now be manufactured quickly and easily.
This collaboration between SGL Group and BASF was launched in October, 2012. On the basis of the now-complete material research, the transfer of the special systems made from carbon fibers and matrices into specific applications of customers in the automotive industry is now under way.