JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #74 - July 2012 - 35

A productive experience: Sam Smith, Lola Cars International Ltd. Communications Manager, said: “Working with WMG and Umeco on some of the innovative composite and flax solutions proved to be a very productive experience for Lola engineers. The LolaDrayson B12/69EV is all about the future of racing and ensuring that sustainability can be vibrant and exciting. The consortium of companies involved in this project has shown that cutting-edge technology and responsible material design can go hand in hand and create a sound basis for future generations of engineers.”

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and MTM®49 toughened epoxy resins, originally developed specifically for the manufacture of components requiring high damage tolerance. Lola was involved from the onset, setting the performance criteria for the structures they planned to manufacture. They have since produced a range of parts for the Lola-Drayson B12/69EV using MTM®28/Biotex flax and MTM®49/Biotex flax, and have achieved outstanding results.

Recycled and flax composites
Flax fibres have similar mechanical properties to glass fibres, but with much lower weight and environmental impact, as well as extremely good vibration damping and insulating characteristics. The use of renewable flax composites in “green” vehicles provides a nice synergy and, with this eco race car, Lola has shown that flax can even be used in highperformance, cutting-edge applications.

Through the application of recycled and flax-reinforced composites, as well as inductive charging, composite battery power, moveable aerodynamics and electrical regenerative damping, the Lola-Drayson B12/69EV racing car exhibits sustainable “green” technologies, making it one of the world’s most innovative “cleantech” motorsport projects. The B12/69EV, which develops 850 horsepower, aims to be the fastest electric-powered race car on the track. n
More information: www.compositesevolution.com www.elgcf.com www.lolacars.com www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg www.umeco.com

The power of collaboration.

It’s what we’re all about.
Experienced automotive engineers and OEM manufacturers understand there is much more that goes into developing parts than the buying public will ever know. The complexity alone is reason enough to look to Ashland for perspectives on using thermoset composite polymers in place of steel. Structural parts made from our Derakane™ epoxy vinyl ester resins oﬀer greater design ﬂexibility, weight reduction, cost savings and more. OEMs across the country and around the world are taking advantage of Ashland resins in sheet- and bulk-molded composite parts. Why not join them? For more information, contact us at pmeuropesales@ashland.com.

Feature Automotive

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With good chemistry great things happen.™

No74 July 2012 /

jec composites magazine 35

http://www.compositesevolution.com http://www.elgcf.com http://www.lolacars.com http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg http://www.umeco.com http://www.ashland.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #74 - July 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #74 - July 2012