Auto Plastics & Alternative Materials

[dprox]

Next to space exploration, the auto industry has always been a playground for new technologies (polymers, reinforced plastics, ceramics, etc). If you have info, news or recommendations on alternative automotive materials, please post it here.

Spinning off from the PhUV prototype thread discussions on sheetmetal vs reinforced plastic (http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showp...postcount=507), here's a pitch for autobody plastics, just so we don't shut the door to future technologies.

PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) seems to be a good contender for future car bodies. In the textile industry, it's called polyester. In the beverage industry, it's your ubiquitous plastic water bottle.

The US Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) has material on "Recycled PET Compounds for Automotive Applications" - http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb...fier=ADD443519

Here are links to Chrysler's own research into plastic car bodies. They call them "CCV" or Composite Concept Vehicles, using PET. The project was really for developing countries, but for reasons of "logistics" and corporate politics (the Chrysler-DaimlerBenz merger), the CCV program was terminated in 1998. Hmmm. Plastic na, naging bakal pa ulit!
Siguro bad siya para sa steel industry, kaya nilagot siya.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_CCV
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z...V/default.aspx
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1347

[wildthing]

kaso PET is not biodegradable di ba? Highly flamable din in case of accident.

mas realistic pa sa akin yung fiberglass, carbon fiber and kevlar fibers and resin bodies

[safeorigin]

I experimented with bamboo fibers at home. durable din ito kahit paano. steps:

1. cut a bamboo
2. remove the fibers(might cause you painful splinters)
3. create a bundle of fibers then twist until compact and looks like a thick yarn
4. kiln dry(i used uling fire)
5. apply adhesive resin to harden the fiber
6. combine the fibers and glue together using adhesive to produce a sheet
7. viola! bamboo fiber sheet

[dprox]

...
5. apply adhesive resin to harden the fiber
6. combine the fibers and glue together using adhesive to produce a sheet
7. viola! bamboo fiber sheet

Congratulations safeorigin!
It's good to know there are people like you who actually leave the computer and get down and dirty TRYING things out!
BTW, what adhesive did you use? Have you experimented with several?
Ever try epoxy? Of course, the best would be resin & hardener na ginagamit sa fiberglass.
Pwede kaya yan sa minor automotive parts like cover plates and sidings?
Right now I'm thinking that if your experiments are successful, baka pwede yan sa scale modeling as part of the design process.

[architect]

Article on Stabilized Aluminum Foam - http://www.aluminum.org/ANTemplate.c...ContentID=7089

[safeorigin]

yup, adhesive resin+hardener gamit ko. cool tingnan. mukang matte carbon fiber ang looks. recommend ko is 3 layer sheet ang gawin nyo para matibay. kaya kahit magpatong 5 kilo.

[drey]

yup, adhesive resin+hardener gamit ko. cool tingnan. mukang matte carbon fiber ang looks. recommend ko is 3 layer sheet ang gawin nyo para matibay. kaya kahit magpatong 5 kilo.

dude... pics naman kahit i-PM mo nalang kung takot ka pa rin...

[jpdm]

I experimented with bamboo fibers at home. durable din ito kahit paano. steps:

1. cut a bamboo
2. remove the fibers(might cause you painful splinters)
3. create a bundle of fibers then twist until compact and looks like a thick yarn
4. kiln dry(i used uling fire)
5. apply adhesive resin to harden the fiber
6. combine the fibers and glue together using adhesive to produce a sheet
7. viola! bamboo fiber sheet

Congratulations safeorigin!
It's good to know there are people like you who actually leave the computer and get down and dirty TRYING things out!
BTW, what adhesive did you use? Have you experimented with several?
Ever try epoxy? Of course, the best would be resin & hardener na ginagamit sa fiberglass.
Pwede kaya yan sa minor automotive parts like cover plates and sidings?
Right now I'm thinking that if your experiments are successful, baka pwede yan sa scale modeling as part of the design process.

*safeorigin should read this!

[SIZE=3]Small Leyte town assembles bamboo car[/SIZE]

By Vicente Labro
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:34:00 09/06/2009

Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Road Transport

TABONTABON, LEYTE, Philippines—Move over electric cars, bamboo cars are the next eco-friendly transport.

A farming town has started to assemble cars using bamboo and other indigenous materials in pursuit of the green agenda. It has also fabricated equipment for waste recycling.

Tabontabon, a fifth-class municipality of over 10,000 people and situated 30 kilometers south of Tacloban City, began the environment-friendly projects on the initiative of its mayor, Dr. Rustico Balderian.

Balderian, 53, a physician serving his first term as mayor, recalls that the car assembly venture arose from the town’s need for an alternative means of transportation.

Jeepneys seldom ply the route because it takes hours for the vehicles to fill up with passengers. The main mode of transport is the motorcycle, locally known as habal-habal which, according to the mayor, is prone to accidents.

To solve the problem, Balderian says he looked around for a form of transport that can compete with the habal-habal, jeepney and multicab in terms of cost and efficiency. With the help of residents and out-of-school youths, he experimented with a three-wheeler and a car with a one-cylinder engine.

[SIZE=3]Three car models
[/SIZE]
They finally settled on a two-cylinder engine that runs on coconut-based biofuel with the body made of indigenous material.

Their efforts resulted in three prototypes of the eco-friendly cars assembled under the Tabontabon Organic Transportation Industry (Toti) livelihood project.

The Eco 1 model car, designed by Balderian, is made of indigenous materials, except for the engine, tires, chassis and flooring. It can seat 20 people, including driver, and can run on one gallon of biodiesel for eight hours.

It can climb a 20-percent incline. Its body, including the roof, is covered with woven mats. It has a steel plate flooring.

The Eco 2 model car is 70 per cent made of bamboo, including body and flooring. It can seat six passengers and has a stereo system. It can run on one gallon of biodiesel for eight hours and can climb a 20-percent incline.

The Eco 3 model car is an improved version of Eco 2. Bamboo makes up 90 percent of the car, including chassis. It can accommodate six passengers.

The three car models have been driven around town and even participated in a parade in Tacloban City.

Stronger than steel

Balderian says the use of locally available bamboo, whose tensile strength is greater than steel, lowers production cost. Bamboo is also pliant and light.

“Bamboo cars are environment-friendly and could help mitigate the adverse effects of climate changes,” he says.

According to the mayor, it takes around five tons of ore to produce a ton of steel plate and to transform the ore into steel plate, some five million Btu of heat is needed.

Balderian claims the[SIZE=3] car body can last 10 years as the bamboo and indigenous materials will be laminated or treated with polyurethane to withstand the heat and rain.[/SIZE]

There is also no danger of the vehicle catching fire as polyurethane is fire-resistant, he adds.

Mass production

Balderian estimates that the Eco 1 car will cost about P200,000. Since it runs on coconut biofuel, it will not be dependent on the more expensive fossil-fuel.

Some of his fellow mayors, he says, have already signified their interest to buy these environment-friendly cars.

Balderian says their group is seeking a classification for these “eco-vehicles” from the Land Transportation Office.

So far, they have only produced three prototypes and will only assemble additional units if there are orders.

If there is enough interest, they plan to mass-produce the cars.