Far-UK is certainly one of those businesses committed to the lightweighting journey. Its super lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) AxontexTM 3D beam car chassis design, developed by Axon Automotive, is an innovative composite technology used for the new Hyundai Intrado hydrogen-powered crossover concept car. Due recognition of the technology came at the recent Composites UK Industry Awards when Far-UK secured the ‘Innovation in Design’ Award.
The super lightweight CFRP chassis prototypes were produced in the UK for Hyundai by Axon Automotive (part of Far-UK) at its factory in Northamptonshire. Two advanced composites materials from Far-UK advanced materials partner Scott Bader – Crestapol 1250LV high performance acrylic thermoset resin and Crestabond M1-20 primer-less methacrylate structural adhesive – are used to manufacture and bond together the component sections of the Axontex super-lightweight CFRP car chassis system of the Intrado, designed by Axon Automotive in collaboration with Hyundai.
The Intrado’s chassis is made up entirely of moulded parts fabricated using Axon Automotive’s internationally patented Axontex structural beam composite technology. Crestapol 1250LV is the specified infusion resin, that is vacuum assisted resin transfer moulded (VARTM) around Axon’s proprietary 3D beam design, which combines woven carbon fibre braided tubing around low density polyethylene (LDPE) preforms that foam and expand during infusion. Using this design and process, which can be fully automated, Axontex may be used to form both straight and curved components to create complex-shaped assembled structures.
