Stuttgart, December 1995
The toughness of this lining belies its delicate appearance. It also has the great advantage of being light. Daimler-Benz researchers are developing ultra-light materials which are highly resistant to warping and virtually unbreakable. Use of such light-weight materials originated in the aviation industry and now researchers are looking at the possibilities for using them in motor vehicles. The lighter a car is, the more fuel can be saved. Such materials could be used in boot linings, spoilers or bonnets. The researchers have already been able to produce light-weight bullet-proof vests.As far as composite materials are concerned, fibre-reinforced plastics have already proven their advantages. Thin fibres, for example of glass, aramide or carbon, have the highest known strength and rigidity values. Daimler-Benz researchers also work with natural fibres, however, such as flax.
The aim is to produce components using the classical methods applied in textiles technology. This not only save costs: by weaving, braiding and knitting, it is possible to make highly integrated components with superior mechanical properties.
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© 1995 Daimler-Benz