Automotive Prepreg
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) has officially launched the all-new Mono R – a higher performance, lighter and more advanced new generation of the iconic Mono.
Mono R is the first production car in the world fully incorporating the use of graphene-enhanced carbon fibre in every body panel. As well as utiltising Haydale’s graphene-enhanced prepreg within the automotive body panels, the material was also incorporated in the composite tooling of this latest road-legal, single seat super car created by Briggs Automotive Company (BAC).
The utilisation of graphene enhanced tooling materials offers the potential for significant improvements in the following aspects:
• The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) – is more closely matched when using composite tooling. A key issue with the use of metal tooling is a significant mismatch in (CTE).
• The need for superior quality, higher dimensional stability tooling is increasing the demand for composite tooling.
• Current composite tools also suffer from a finite life – wearing of the tool surfaces, microcracking. The use of graphene has the potential to increase the life of the tools.
• Haydale has an established supply chain based in the UK, creating a competitive manufacturing process for graphene enhanced composite tools and is ready to expand into the global market.
• Use of composite materials will allow automotive companies the capability to hybridise, increase structural rigidity and reduce mass, helping meet emissions targets.
“BAC is forever an innovator, and being able to release a new car fully incorporating the use of graphene is just another example of how we’re pushing the boundaries. Niche vehicle manufacturers are of paramount importance in the automotive industry, acting as stepping stones for mass-market production technology – and after the overwhelming success of our R&D project with Haydale and Pentaxia, Mono R could well be a stepping stone for graphene-enhanced composite body panels and tooling reaching the wider automotive industry in the near future.” Ian Briggs Design Director Briggs Automotive Company