Teijin to support Kogakuin University's solar car project

The Teijin Group is supporting the Kogakuin University’s Solar Car Project team for its fourth consecutive year. Collaborating with the university as a partner in developing innovative, next-generation automobiles, Teijin is providing technical support for solar panels and other components in the solar car, as well as conventional support for a wide range of materials and products designed to maximise the comfort and performance of the team members, said Teijin in a press release.

GH Craft Ltd, Teijin’s composite-structure design, development and evaluation unit and a leader in CFRP composite structures, is engaged in all facets of composite-structure fabrication for super-lightweight vehicles, including design, moulding and structural evaluation. The company is providing the Kogakuin University Solar Team with expert technical support, including a technician who will provide in-race mechanical and technical backup, aiming to help the team achieve its first victory in this challenging race.

The car will use high-performance materials and technologies from Teijin and its fibres and products converting company, Teijin Frontier Co, Ltd, including:  ultra-lightweight fabric made with Tenax carbon fibre for the body, panlite polycarbonate (PC) resin for the windows to reduce body weight and improve driver safety, Technora para-aramid fibre prepreg for the wheel wells for lower air resistance to reduce vehicle weight and add durability, vertically lapped nonwoven polyester fabric for seat cushions to minimise weight while enhancing rider comfort, Nanofront ultra-fine polyester fibre to be used in the team’s driving gloves for extra-positive steering, Teijinconex meta-aramid fibre, a heat-resistant and flameproof material, will be adopted for the team’s driving suits to help protect riders from the harsh race environment including possible fire in the case of an accident, Deltapeak hybrid polyester fabric will be incorporated in the team’s uniforms for excellent comfort and fit to keep the team fresh after many hours of preparation and racing.

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, which was inaugurated in 1987, will hold its 15th competition this year as the world’s biggest biannual solar car race to showcase advanced, innovative technologies for solar cars. The Kogakuin University Solar Team is entered in the competition’s Challenger Class with 52 competitors from 24 countries.

Teijin is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibres such as aramid, carbon fibres & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibres, products converting and IT. (PC)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India