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Composites

Ford and DowAksa to develop carbon fibre for high-volume automotive light-weighting applications

The goal is to produce materials that make cost-effective carbon fibre composite parts that are much lighter than steel but meet automotive strength requirements.

15th May 2015

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Dearborn, MI

Transport/​Aerospace, Sustainable

Ford and DowAksa, a leader in carbon fibre based composites, have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to formally advance research on cost-effective, high-volume manufacturing of automotive-grade carbon fibre, a material poised to play a significant role in the drive to make vehicles lighter for greater fuel efficiency, performance and capability.

The agreement, between Ford Motor Company, Ford Global Technologies and DowAksa will combine DowAksa’s feedstock capacity, carbon fibre conversion and downstream intermediates production capabilities with Ford's expertise in design, engineering and high-volume manufacturing.

The goal is to produce materials that make cost-effective carbon fibre composite parts that are much lighter than steel but meet automotive strength requirements.

Optimized performance

“This joint development agreement reinforces Ford’s commitment to our partnership with DowAksa, and our drive to bring carbon fibre components to the broader market,” said Mike Whitens, Director, Vehicle Enterprise Sciences, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering.

“The goal of our work here fits within the company’s Blueprint for Sustainability, where future Ford vehicles will be lighter with optimized performance that would help consumers further improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.”

Lightweighting solutions

DowAksa Chairman, Heinz Haller, said that the agreement marks another milestone in the partnership to develop lightweighting solutions for the automotive industry. “Ford and DowAksa’s collaboration will accelerate delivery of advanced materials and technologies to meet and exceed expectations for high performance and fuel economy,” he commented.

The JDA allows the companies to collaboratively generate new, lower-cost automotive grades of carbon fibre that can be applied to aligned and random fibre formats while maintaining compatibility with both thermoset and thermoplastic matrices.

The agreement also includes a pathway for potential extension of development collaboration into a commercial manufacturing partnership.

Overcoming high cost and limited availability

“Automotive manufacturers’ use of carbon fibre composites has been hindered by the absence of both high-volume manufacturing methods and affordable material formats,” said Mehmet Ali Berkman, DowAska Vice Chairman. “This partnership combines the individual strengths of each company to target these challenges.”

As announced in January, the companies will be part of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), announced by President Obama as part of the larger National Network for Manufacturing Innovation supported by the US Department of Energy.

The JDA will facilitate the companies’ efforts in conjunction with IACMI to overcome the high cost and limited availability of carbon fibre in automotive applications.

www.media.ford.com

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