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SMC roving makes cars look fast
AP P L I C AT Composite valve w e i g h s less A PROTOTYPE enviro n m e n t a l c o n t r o l valve made from composite material will be tested on a US Navy F/A-18 fighter, reports A v i a t i o n W e e k & Space Technolo~D, The valve weighs some 1 kg, making it 500 g l i g h t e r than the current i n v e s t m e n t - c a s t aluminium version. The Center for Excellence for Composites Manufacturing Technology developed the valve for the Navy. The graphite fibre reinforced polyetheretherk e t o n e (PEEK) part is made by injection moulding. It is capable of sustained vibration levels of 26.6 g and temperatures of 120~
Jetstream has fire safe h o l d FIRE safety in the cargo hold of the Jetstream 41 aircraft is being assured by a phenolic composite material from Permali Gloucester. The WFF/22 lining material is one of Permali's self-extinguishing glass laminates. These combine d u r a b i l i t y a n d ligl~t weight with low ratings for smoke and toxic emissions. Hunting Aircraft has a contract to manufacture the complete interior for 30 Jetstream 4 l's. Perma-
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PlasticsJanuary 1994
Mitsubishi to m a k e light b i k e
SMC r o v i n g m a k e s cars l o o k fast
ONE OF the world's lightest bicycle frames will go on sale in February. Designed by Greg Lemond BicYcle Inc of the USA, the frame w i l l be manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co of Japan, says The N i k k e i W e e k l l : Mitsubishi Rayon expects first-year sales of 5000 frames, mostly in the US and Europe. It will be available in two models. The b i c y c l e b o d y weighs 1.1. kg 10% less than most existing prod u c t s . T h e f r a m e and joints are made from carbon composites. Lcmond, who has won the Tour de France bike race three times, designed the frame, which will be manufactured in Mitsubishi Rayon's Toyohashi plant in Aichi Prefecture. M i t s u b i s h i R a y o n Co; tel: + 8 1 - 3 - 3 2 4 5 - 8 6 6 2 .
Permali Gloucester's fireresistant laminate is used to line the cargo hoM o f the Jetstream 41 aircraft.
li's fire-retardant material will form t h e i n t e r i o r surfaces of the 4.8 m 3 baggage area. Permali Gloucester Ltd; tel: +44-4525 2 8 2 8 2 ; f a x : + 44-452507409.
A new SMC roving f r o m Owens-Corning adds to the sleek look oJ the Camaro and Firebird models from General Motors.
THE 1994 General Motors' Camaro and Firebird cars, with structural body panels made of sheet moulding compound (SMC), contain a special reinforcement that allows them to look as if they are moving fast, even when they are standing still. Owens-Corning's 973C roving for SMC, used by GenCorp Automotive in the body panels, yields a sleek Class surface with reduced fibre prominence and superior mechanical properties compared with competing SMC rovings, says the glass maker. "In the production of an SMC part, the 973C roving wets-out better to give the moulder the option of higher glass loadings or faster line speeds," says Rick D i P a s q u a l e , Owens-Corning business manager for transportation. "973C also gives the moulder a much denser sheet, which translates to better weig.ht tolerances and easier cutting and
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handling," he adds. The SMC used by GenCorp for the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird body panels relies on 973C roving, a new generation roving for SMC. 973C is also being used in a number of structural applications w h i c h require faster wetting, better mould flow and less fuzz. DiPasquale believes that 973C is better in all areas than c o m p e t i t i v e materials and says that its versatility has been well received by aU customers. The Camaro and Firebird, w h i c h share the same F-body design and components, are the first US cars to incorporate a hatch made from SMC. Other SMC components on the cars include the roof, doors, bonnet, spoilers and rear deck. In total 57 kg of SMC is used on each vehicle. Dick Kaverman, O w e n s - C o r n i n g ; tel: + 14 1 9 - 2 4 8 - 7841.
Jetstream has fire safe h o l d FIRE safety in the cargo hold of the Jetstream 41 aircraft is being assured by a phenolic composite material from Permali Gloucester. The WFF/22 lining material is one of Permali's self-extinguishing glass laminates. These combine d u r a b i l i t y a n d ligl~t weight with low ratings for smoke and toxic emissions. Hunting Aircraft has a contract to manufacture the complete interior for 30 Jetstream 4 l's. Perma-
~r
PlasticsJanuary 1994
Mitsubishi to m a k e light b i k e
SMC r o v i n g m a k e s cars l o o k fast
ONE OF the world's lightest bicycle frames will go on sale in February. Designed by Greg Lemond BicYcle Inc of the USA, the frame w i l l be manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co of Japan, says The N i k k e i W e e k l l : Mitsubishi Rayon expects first-year sales of 5000 frames, mostly in the US and Europe. It will be available in two models. The b i c y c l e b o d y weighs 1.1. kg 10% less than most existing prod u c t s . T h e f r a m e and joints are made from carbon composites. Lcmond, who has won the Tour de France bike race three times, designed the frame, which will be manufactured in Mitsubishi Rayon's Toyohashi plant in Aichi Prefecture. M i t s u b i s h i R a y o n Co; tel: + 8 1 - 3 - 3 2 4 5 - 8 6 6 2 .
Permali Gloucester's fireresistant laminate is used to line the cargo hoM o f the Jetstream 41 aircraft.
li's fire-retardant material will form t h e i n t e r i o r surfaces of the 4.8 m 3 baggage area. Permali Gloucester Ltd; tel: +44-4525 2 8 2 8 2 ; f a x : + 44-452507409.
A new SMC roving f r o m Owens-Corning adds to the sleek look oJ the Camaro and Firebird models from General Motors.
THE 1994 General Motors' Camaro and Firebird cars, with structural body panels made of sheet moulding compound (SMC), contain a special reinforcement that allows them to look as if they are moving fast, even when they are standing still. Owens-Corning's 973C roving for SMC, used by GenCorp Automotive in the body panels, yields a sleek Class surface with reduced fibre prominence and superior mechanical properties compared with competing SMC rovings, says the glass maker. "In the production of an SMC part, the 973C roving wets-out better to give the moulder the option of higher glass loadings or faster line speeds," says Rick D i P a s q u a l e , Owens-Corning business manager for transportation. "973C also gives the moulder a much denser sheet, which translates to better weig.ht tolerances and easier cutting and
El
handling," he adds. The SMC used by GenCorp for the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird body panels relies on 973C roving, a new generation roving for SMC. 973C is also being used in a number of structural applications w h i c h require faster wetting, better mould flow and less fuzz. DiPasquale believes that 973C is better in all areas than c o m p e t i t i v e materials and says that its versatility has been well received by aU customers. The Camaro and Firebird, w h i c h share the same F-body design and components, are the first US cars to incorporate a hatch made from SMC. Other SMC components on the cars include the roof, doors, bonnet, spoilers and rear deck. In total 57 kg of SMC is used on each vehicle. Dick Kaverman, O w e n s - C o r n i n g ; tel: + 14 1 9 - 2 4 8 - 7841.