I found this on my usual Automotive RSS ramblings and thought it would have applications in frame manufacuring: GM has found a new materials technology in its search for increasing fuel efficiency in its(too large) fleet of vehicles called Quantech. The material was developed by a Wilmington, Massachusetts company: Quantum Leap Packaging. The material is a liquid crystal polymer could be used in applications that usually require metal, including body panels. “Plastics tend to have a larger coefficient of expansion, as anyone who’s checked the door gaps on a Saturn SL1 will tell you, but this new material combines dimensional stability comparable to steel and strength on par with titanium. ”
Quantech, as the material is known, is similar to Kevlar and could be used for support brackets, body pieces, and even underhood parts where the weather’s always warm. While resins and exotic materials are no bargain, the price of steel has been increasing too, which makes a better case for trying something new. A fast-track plan may see Quantech hitting production cars in six months, though the timeline could protract to two years if the vetting process reveals any challenges to overcome.
Some of the uses mentioned were normally where you can find afermarket carbon fiber parts. Since it is apparently lighter than steal and has simliar characteristics as Kevlar, could it be used in frame manufacturing as a “just as good as,” yet cheaper alternative to carbon fiber? I couldn’t find any specific physical characterisitcs on the company’s website to compare to carbon fiber to see if this is viable.
Link: Autoblog
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