Page 13 - MODCOMP Newsletter no. 6
P. 13
Newsletter, Volume 6
MODCOMP's Automotive Demonstrators:
Handbrake lever and steering knuckle
More handbrake levers for motorcycles made by of structural properties of CFRP especially at de-
composite material have been manufactured by monstrator or prototype level by CNT, has sel-
RISE SICOMP after the co-design done with dom been reported in EU projects to the best
Brembo. knowledge of the responsible researchers, par-
C-Weave 400 T 6K HS X 125CM (woven carbon ticularly the CNT-modified CF reinforcement is
fabric) with Bodopox AF-1200 (base resin) and produced in a continuous way. This could show-
Bodocure INF 32 medium (hardener) were used case the benefits and competitive advantages of
to produce the levers. Some of these levers were nanotechnology in the advanced composites
done also with CNTs using electrophoretic dep- area as well as the innovation capability of Eu-
osition (EPD). The CNT deposit density following rope in this field.
the deposition conditions optimized in the dura-
tion of MODCOMP project is ~0.54 g/m2.
The levers have been tested by Brembo applying The handbrake levers are usually done by alumi-
forces in different directions by a small bench num. Using CFRP instead aluminum it has been
consisting of a load cell, an actuator and a data possible to get a reduction of about 40 % of the
acquisition system. All the demonstrators have weight (grip weight).
passed the tests recommended by Brembo how-
ever the levers made by the treated material Three steering knuckles for a car made by com-
have demonstrated a better mechanical re- posite material have been manufactured by Yu-
sistance also with a very small amount of CNTs. zhnoye SDO after the co-design done with
The force needed to break the levers with CNTs Brembo. G0926 (carbon fabric) with Araldite LY
in one specific direction was about 15% higher 556 (epoxy resin), Aradur 917 (hardener), DY
than the force needed to break the levers, in the 070 (accelerator) were used to produce these
same direction, without CNTs. The improvement
13 | P a g e
