The vehicle will be entered in Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the world’s biggest solar car race, which will take place in Australia from 18-25 October.

Ultra-lightweight fabric

The Teijin Group supplied the university with ultra-lightweight fabric made with Tenax carbon fibre, which was used to design and fabricate the racing vehicle’s 2-seater body.

GH Craft has been involved from the concept stage in developing the all-carbon composite body. Tenax ultra-lightweight fabric enabled the bodyweight to be reduced by 55kg, but is still said to ensure practicality and safety, as well as the tensile modulus (rigidity) and tenacity (strength) needed to withstand endurance racing.

 Toho Tenax, together with Sakai Ovex, developed an ultra-lightweight carbon fibre fabric as thin as 0.06 mm in 2010. The CFRP produced with this material was used to fabricate the car body.

Thermoset and thermoplastic CFRP applications

GH Craft, founded in 1972, is engaged in all stages of composite structure fabrication, including design, moulding and structural evaluation. It is a leader in developing CFRP composite structures for transportation, including in the automotive, marine, rail and aerospace industries, as well as wind power generation equipment in the energy field.

In addition to thermoset CFRP developed by Toho Tenax and GH Craft, the Teijin Group is researching and developing thermoplastic CFRP at its Teijin Composites Innovation Center. Teijin markets thermoset and thermoplastic CFRP applications through its Automotive Business Development Group.

Going forward, the Teijin Group will continue to leverage its all-round capabilities to develop advanced CFRP solutions for automotive purposes, the company reports.

Teijin Group

Teijin is a technology-driven group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare.

Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibres such as aramid, carbon fibres and composites, healthcare, films, resin and plastic processing, polyester fibres, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 16,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide.

www.teijin.com