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BMW and SGL to triple production capacity at Moses Lake carbon fiber plant with $200M expansion; world’s largest carbon fiber plant

Green Car Congress

A production line for carbon fiber takes the PAN precursor through two stages (stabilization/oxidation and carbonization) and then to winding. The site expansion, scheduled to be completed by early 2015, will make the plant in Moses Lake the world’s largest carbon fiber plant. 3,000 tons of carbon fiber.

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NREL plant-based epoxy enables recyclable carbon fiber; more cost-effective, lower GHG footprint

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Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have shown that making carbon fiber composites with bio-based epoxies and an anhydride hardener makes the material fully recyclable by introducing linkages that are more easily degraded. Synthesizing carbon fiber involves temperatures of more than 1,000 °C.

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Borealis Fibremod technology available for N American market; glass and carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene

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Borealis, a supplier of polyolefin plastic materials for engineering applications in the automotive industry, announced the availability of Fibremod, its innovative carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) technology, for the North American automotive market. Fibremod PP carbon fiber (CF).

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SGL Carbon to produce carbon fiber battery housing cover for BMW Group

Green Car Congress

This substantial multi-year order will include the production of an innovative glass-fiber-based cover plate for the battery housing for usage in a future plug-in hybrid model of BMW Group. Carbon fibers are ideal for especially stressed structures or load-bearing elements, such as the underbody panels and side frames.

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Hyundai N Models to Receive Carbon Fiber Wheels

The Truth About Cars

The UK-based wheel specialist from Dymag and composites wizards from Korea's Hankuk Carbon have announced the development of a line of hybrid carbon-fiber wheels for Hyundai’s N cars.& Harmonic characteristics of carbon fiber are likewise supposed to help reduce noise, vibration, and harshness.

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Magna to produce carbon fiber composite body panels

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Magna Exteriors, an operating unit of Magna International, has been awarded new business to supply painted automotive body panels made from carbon fiber composite material for two 2016 model-year vehicles. This effort followed the successful collaboration between Magna and Zoltek to develop CFS-Z carbon fiber sheet molding compound.

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3D printing with high-performance carbon fiber

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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have become the first to 3D-print aerospace-grade carbon fiber composites, opening the door to greater control and optimization of the lightweight, yet stronger than steel material. Click to enlarge. —fluid analyst Yuliya Kanarska.