(Ashland LLC)
Lightweighting vehicles, in order to reduce emissions, is a well identified need for the automotive industry. Magna International Inc in cooperation with Ford Motor Company, have developed a prototype carbon fiber composite subframe that not only reduces the weight of the vehicle but also consolidates the number of parts needed in its assembly by over 80%. The part is manufactured with Ashland epoxy vinyl ester resin and carbon fiber SMC technology. Because the subframe is an integral part of the vehicle’s frame, it has greatly expanded the possibilities of composites use in a truly structural application for mass produced vehicles.