Carbon Fiber
As a member of the Teijin group of companies, Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) has access to a variety of advanced fiber and materials technologies, including carbon fiber. As we work toward formulating the next generation of lightweight materials, we offer a number of cost-effective ways to incorporate carbon fiber into Class A or structural applications. Our Carbon Fiber Center of Excellence in Pouance, France, the carbon fiber expertise of Benet Automotive in the Czech Republic, and our extensive R&D capabilities in Auburn Hills, Michigan, supply the expertise necessary to formulate, design and manufacture a solution that offers optimal weight reduction while maintaining all of the necessary mechanical and surface requirements.
Carbon Fiber Capabilities
Carbon Fiber advanced composite
This is a reinforced, high strength structural-grade SMC, ideal for closure inners and other structural panels. With a specific gravity of 1.4, this lightweight material also offers higher strength and modulus due to the chopped carbon fiber reinforcement.
Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)
Made from either a woven or recycled mat, CSP uses a fast-cure, multi-injection resin system to create structural components. Combined with CSP’s RTM system that incorporates a high performance vacuum and high-pressure injection, CSP has greatly reduced the cycle times generally associated with RTM. RTM components can be made with normal NCF or a preform for near net shape (Part via Preform). This method offers a very low scrap rate, while NCF RTM offers a Class A exposed weave surface.
Sereebo®
Sereebo is a Teijin proprietary material technology. This thermoplastic compression molded material has superior energy absorption and impact properties, good moldability and a one-minute cycle time.
Sereebo is currently in production on the GMC Sierra Denali CarbonPro edition, in the industry’s first carbon fiber pickup box. This revolutionary material received numerous industry awards, including the 2019 Automotive News PACE Award.
Rapid Cure Prepreg
This compression molded thermoset is either unidirectional or fabric in nature and requires a lower pressure molding. Cycle times are generally around 5 minutes.
The carbon fiber RTM structural inner component represents a number of breakthroughs in the use of recycled materials for cost-effective, mass production applications. Using pre-formed mats infused with a Hexion fast-cure, epoxy-based resin played a key role in CSP being able to successfully reduce the cycle time associated with high carbon fiber content RTM. From injection time to cure to completion, the total cycle time for this component is 2.5 to 3 minutes.