Graphene in Automotive

There is an increasing role for graphene driven by the growing trend to substitute conventional steel with other metals in vehicles with lighter weight materials.

Within automotive applications there is an increasing trend to use graphene enhanced fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to meet the need for innovative and multi-functional next generation lightweight materials.

Collaborating with Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) on the Mono R the use of graphene reduced the weight of the bodywork by 22%: a substantial amount for a car’s bodywork, and especially important for the very lightweight 555kg Mono R. The use of functionalised graphene paired back two complete carbon layers on the build while improving the shell’s mechanical resilience. The result cut both weight and cost.

Weight saving by optimised composite is one of the most significant benefits, and the use of printed sensors using our graphene-based inks will also open up a wide range of technical possibilities to further optimise the design, improving vehicle performance and driver safety.

Graphene Enhanced Tooling

Fibre-reinforced composites are gaining in use in automotive parts manufacturing and efficient production methods remain a key focus.

Metal tools have a high coefficient of thermal expansion and are expensive and heavy, while composite tools are typically less durable making them more vulnerable to wear and limits their use to low volume production.

Functionalised graphene can be added to high performing tooling epoxy resin and then pre-impregnated onto a suitable carbon fibre for tool manufacture.
Working with Prodrive Composites, Haydale’s prepreg has been on trial for more than two years with exceptional performance, doubling the number of parts produced compared to their standard version.

The resin system is applicable to all standard carbon fibre reinforcements and is available in production quantities with global shipping available.