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Potential plus for Australian industry
CSIRO's Matrix Resins Group (Division of Chemicals and Polymers) and TWR Australia (Holden Racing Team) have signed a collaborative agreement to build the lightest and toughest automotive body parts ever produced in Australia.
The collaborative venture springs from the Division's breakthrough work in epoxy resins which 'cure' at low temperatures. The technology has a number of advantages over traditional production methods, including substantial time and cost savings
At the newly established Composite Fabrication Centre, a number of wings, fenders and other body parts for Holden's racing Commodores have been made.
The resin technology can be applied in the boating, defence and other industries. The staff at the centre are already working on projects for other companies.
CSIRO also has expertise in high temperature composites and "low-flow" structural composites that also have applications in aerospace and automotive industries.
Negotiations are also underway to establish a new industry in Australia supplying "prepregs" to Australian companies manufacturing composite parts.
A "prepreg" is the advanced fibre material from which the components are made, and is impregnated with the high performance resin. Until now no one has produced the necessary resin formulations in Australia and virtually all "prepregs" have had to be imported from overseas. This means there are substantial savings to be made by replacing these imports.
Another application of the technology is "composite tooling". High temperature composite moulds offer a number of advantages and are ideal for short production runs when, for example, making prototype automotive or boating parts. At the moment all high performance composite moulds are imported but CSIRO resins make it possible for the production of these moulds in Australia.
For further information please contact:
Dr Jonathan Hodgkin at the CSIRO Division of Chemicals and PolymersPhoto of the signing, further background information on the Centre and CSIRO's resin technology are available from:
Gerry Scheltinga, Communication Manager,[Level Up] [Doc Top] [Doc End] [Next Item] [Home Page]