The application of kostron polycarbonate in the co

Application of kostron polycarbonate in the concept of future cars

Application of kostron polycarbonate in the concept of future cars

June 4, 2018

[China paint information]

many people are talking about autonomous vehicle, especially the larger display screen and touch screen. In what way can covestro support them

due to the trend of automatic driving, the interior of the car is evolving into a multi-functional living space with "on-demand functions". As a part of it, due to the development of digitalization and networking, the number and size of automotive internal displays and touch screens are expected to increase

this trend provides a great opportunity for the use of kostron polycarbonate resin and film. For example, they can be designed with large-area 3D screens and can be seamlessly linked to instrument panels, central consoles, doors and seat panels

in addition, polycarbonate resin can also be used in the interior of cars. It is an important gateway for countries to open to ASEAN, such as environmental and dynamic lighting elements, such as light guide

what new and possible automotive applications will use polymers

much of the power of the future automobile comes from the electronics and electronic applications of polymers such as polycarbonate, whether it is electric drive or battery technology, sensor technology, connectivity or artificial intelligence. For example, in recent years, the development of polycarbonate has led to the improvement of the surface appearance of body parts

at the 2016 K exhibition, a new car concept car created by kostron also revealed new design possibilities. Transparent polycarbonate is used in the body part, which has the same effect as black panels

in addition, these components can also include color patterns, 3D effects or backlight structures, benefiting from the glass transparent polycarbonate

how do you view the future application of engineering plastics in automobiles

based on the long-term experience and outstanding performance of kostron in polycarbonate, this engineering plastic is similar to glass and can be used as a key material for new cars

one example is the integration of seamless glass and glass parts of injection molded components. The use of polycarbonate combines design freedom, functionality and safety for passengers and other road users

another trend will be to install monitors outside cars for people and cars to communicate. This may include safety related information, as well as the expression of the driver's emotions, or just advertisements for sharing vehicles. The surface of such a display must be covered with transparent, impact resistant and scratch resistant materials, such as coated polycarbonate

the penetration rate of automotive polycarbonate glass market has been slow and limited. Laminated glass is now lighter and more moldable. Further progress has also been made in chemically toughened glass. So, has the demand for polymer glass disappeared

the new opportunities on glass mentioned above are not easy to realize. At first, they have to show their cost performance in mass production of cars in the next few years

due to its high transparency and clarity, light weight, high degree of design freedom and strong impact resistance, polycarbonate is an ideal choice for automotive glass. Recent developments have even enhanced its applicability to this application, such as the modified UN 43R rule, which allows 360 degrees around the glass, providing the possibility of using polycarbonate to design windscreens, just as we did in the 2016 K exhibition, the automotive environmental simulation test is to put composite materials into the environmental room and show the impact concept at the same time

as for the replacement of electric vehicles, excellent polycarbonate insulation performance will play a more important role in the future. A kind of thermal management based on improving the internal thermal insulation performance of vehicles will reduce the energy consumption of air conditioners or heaters, thereby expanding the space of electric vehicles

in addition, polycarbonate coating will be required for large transparent glass like surfaces outside the car, such as the front radiator grille area - which will eventually promote the polycarbonate glass market

in terms of application, what do you think are the opportunities to use polycarbonate glass on passenger cars? Do you think it is limited to aesthetic glass assembly, such as skylights

in addition to traditional passenger cars, driverless shared electric vehicles will open up a new application field for polycarbonate. This will include transparent glass assemblies, as well as glass like design driven body panels that hide sensors and cameras in an invisible and seamless way

what do you think is the biggest opportunity/application of carbon fiber in mass-produced cars

composites made of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic have played an important role in the automotive business. They promote climate protection and resource conservation by simplifying and highly integrated processes, reducing energy consumption and providing strong sustainability opportunities

in particular, the use of polycarbonate based composites will make it possible to combine aesthetic and semi-structural properties: light weight, high strength, and beautiful

different market segments, including the electrical and electronic industries, as well as the automotive industry, are looking for materials that are lighter and stronger than before. Until recently, covestro began to produce continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTP) in southern Germany

it seems that the process of manufacturing carbon fiber is progressing faster than its recycling. When the service life of carbon fiber parts ends, are there still challenges

in principle, there are many possibilities for recycling CFRTP. For thermosetting materials, it can be pyrolysis or dissolution - these technologies will reduce the performance of fibers

thermoplastic materials have different choices in recycling - they can be remelted, cut into thin sheets, used for high-performance forged carbon materials, ground into powder for composites, and many other uses

however, when choosing the most appropriate method, it is often necessary to consider ecological and economic factors as well as laws and regulations

in automobile manufacturing, the use of composite materials in lightweight is often changed. What other trends do you see

in general, plastic composites make the weight of cars lighter. By reducing energy consumption - in the case of electric vehicles, the light dispersing polycarbonate of the LED bulb lampshade has passed small and medium-sized trials - expand their scope of use, simplify car assembly through functional integration, and may reduce assembly costs

in addition, polycarbonate based cfrtps can achieve class a surface, so they can place structural properties on visible parts

in addition, the composite has strong impact resistance and provides a lot of design freedom. Because of these characteristics, they will play a more important role in the future cars

which automotive applications are the most promising for "smart materials"

we believe that the future automotive body will be characterized by the wide use of plastic parts with multi-functional glass surfaces and seamless integration with the shell. The new polycarbonate based tailgate concept, even a kind of surround glass, provides additional weight reduction possibilities, higher design freedom and further functional integration, especially providing an economical production using two-component injection molding

the integration of light and function opens the door for indoor innovation. The instrument cluster, center console and rear seat cover will have a digital surface with new integrated functions. Polycarbonate can achieve high gloss and matte adjacent surfaces, projected surfaces or advanced lighting elements

another focus is the innovative integration of light concepts based on energy-saving LED lighting technology. The new features and design options will be used not only in the classic headlights and taillights areas, but also in the larger exterior components of the body. For this reason, new plastic optical components need to be integrated into plastic components

unmanned driving in particular will require the integration of a variety of sensors using different measurement principles, such as lidar systems. In order to meet these requirements, kostron has developed the color concept of polycarbonate, which provides maximum infrared transmission