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Solvay supports Belgian solar car made of bio-based resins

30 Sep '15

2 min read

Belgium-based chemical company, Solvay, Cardolite Corporation, and SHD Composite Materials Ltd are supporting the Punch Powertrain Solar Team from the University of Leuven in building the Punch One, a Belgian solar car based on bio-based resins.

The Punch One will run the World Solar Challenge, a solar-powered car race to be held in Australia from October 18 to 25, 2015. The car is produced with carbon fibre prepregs impregnated with Epicerol-based BisA epoxy and cured with a hardener based on cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), a natural renewable chemical raw material.

The university students who built the solar car used an autoclave cure process to produce the composite. SHD Composites combined its expertise in prepreg manufacturing with products from Cardolite and Solvay to develop a bio-based carbon fibre (CFR) composite material. Core components of the resin system were Cardolite's NX-4001, a 95 per cent bio-based novolac using the latest cashew nutshell liquid technology, and Solvay's Epicerol, a 100 per cent bio-based epichlorohydrin (ECH) produced using Solvay's proprietary process.

As a result, the final bio-content of the Punch One's resin matrix is calculated to be 45 per cent. The excellent wetting properties of CNSL-based hardeners and the improved inter laminar shear strength of the final composite resulted in a strong, impact resistant, light-weight CFR epoxy car body with an overall bio-content of 18 per cent, according to a press release.

Cardolite Corporation is a privately held manufacturer of the world's largest variety of products derived from CNSL. The unique properties of CNSL are used to develop and produce a wide range of products to service the coating, friction material, adhesive, and composite markets.

SHD Composite Materials Ltd is a fast growing company founded by Steve and Helen Doughty. The management team have many years of experience in the manufacturing of prepregs, enabling the company to provide first class technical support in all aspects of the business. SHD Composites provides high quality core materials. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India