JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 43
seats
Thermoplastic composites
for automotive seats
By
Thierry Renault
Senior Expert Composites,
Faurecia Automotive Seating
Weight reduction is a key objective in automotive seats and a
multi-material approach combining continuous-fibre-reinforced
thermoplastics, short-fibre plastics, and metals is being investigated for front seat applications. Collaborative projects have been
launched to reduce weight by 30% and to develop materials and
processes that can be used in large series.
Interest and limitations of composites in car interiors
T
The materials used in seat structures need
to combine a high specific strength and
modulus and be ductile during crash.
Except for its density (7.8), steel is an ideal
material for seat structures: it has a high
modulus and strength and its plasticity is
very useful to avoid failure during crash.
Figure 1 shows that the specific strength
and modulus of steel, aluminium and
magnesium are in a similar range, indica-
Fig. 1: Specific modulus vs. specific strength of metals and composites
No82 July 2013 /
Feature Automotive
he automotive seats market is
currently strongly pushing for cost
reductions (part cost and investment) and standardization of components.
However, two other drivers are also very
important: weight reduction and the use
of “green” materials. In 2013, a set of seats
for an average car is around 60-80 kg, with
metal structures representing two thirds of
this weight (including mechanisms). The
optimization of metal structures in terms
of weight is forecast to reach an asymptote,
and polymer/composite technology is a
strong candidate to reduce the weight of
seats. Seats have to meet various safety
standards and regulations. The most stringent specifications are front, rear and side
crash conditions.
Continuous-fibre-reinforced thermoplastics are known to offer a high weight-saving potential in crash relevant structures.
Two breakthroughs now make it possible
to develop composite seat structures. The
first one is the development of CAE tools
that are highly predictive even in the case
of a severe crash. The second is the development of short-fibre-reinforced thermoplastics with high elongation at break and
their combination with continuous-fibre
thermoplastics.
ting that weight savings with light alloys
can be obtained only when the use of
steel is limited by processes and buckling.
Chopped-fibre-reinforced plastics have, at
best, the same specific strength as metals
and their specific modulus is low but can
be improved through part design (ribs,
variable thickness) to stiffen the part.
The main limitation of these materials in
structural crash applications is their low
elongation at break (typically only a few
percent). Continuous glass fibre com-
jec composites magazine 43
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013
Cover
Edito
Point of view > quality & service
Contents
Agenda of Events
COMPANY & BUSINESS In Brief
APPLICATIONS
Buses
UAV
Offshore
MARKET
Bio-resins
China
FEATURE AUTOMOTIVE
Manufacturing
Reinforcement
Body panel
Suspension
Wishbone
Seats
Beam
Urban vehicle
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 3D fabric
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS
RTM
RTM
Thermoplastic
Index
In the world
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Cover
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 2
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Edito
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Point of view > quality & service
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 5
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Contents
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 7
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Agenda of Events
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 9
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - COMPANY & BUSINESS In Brief
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 11
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 12
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Ad1
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Ad2
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Buses
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 14
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - UAV
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Offshore
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 17
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Bio-resins
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 19
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 20
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 21
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - China
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 23
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 24
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Manufacturing
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 26
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 27
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 28
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 29
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 30
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 31
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 32
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Reinforcement
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 34
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 35
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Body panel
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 37
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Suspension
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 39
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Wishbone
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 41
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 42
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Seats
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 44
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 45
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 46
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Beam
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 48
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 49
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 50
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Urban vehicle
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 52
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 53
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 54
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 3D fabric
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 56
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 57
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 58
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 59
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 60
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - RTM
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 62
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - RTM
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Thermoplastic
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - Index
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - In the world
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 67
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #82 - July 2013 - 68
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2211_148
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2209_147
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2206_146
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2204_145
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2201_144
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm211_143
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2109_142
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2107_141
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2105_140
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2103_139
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm-experts-digest-additive-manufacturing-2020
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2101_138
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2011_Special_Issue4
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2011_137
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2009_136
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2007_135
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm_2020_Q1_Innovation_Report
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2005_Special_Issue3
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2005_134
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2003_133
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2001_132
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1911_Special_Issue2
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1911_131
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1909_130
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1907_129
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1905_128
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1903_Special_Issue1
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1903_127
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1901_126
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1811_125
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1810_124
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1808_123
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1807_122
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1805_121
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1804_120
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1803_119
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1802_119-Supplement_Innovation_Report
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1801_118
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1711_117
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1710_116
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1708_115
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1707_114
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1706_113
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1704_112
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1703_111
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1701_110
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1611_109
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1610_108
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1608_107
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1607_106
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1605_105
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1604_104
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1603_103
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1601_102
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1511_101
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1510_100
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1509_99
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1507_98
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1505_97
https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1504_96
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1503_95
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1501_94
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1412_93
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1410_92
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1409_91
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1406_90
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1405_89
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1404_88
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1403_87
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1401_86
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1311_85
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1310_84
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1308_83
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1307_82
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1305_81
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1304_80
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1303_79
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1301_78
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1212_77
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1210_76
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1208_75
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1207_74
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1206_73
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1204_72
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1203_71
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1201_70
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1111_69
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1110_68
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1108_67
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1107_66
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1105_65
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1104_64
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1103_63
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1101_62
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1011_61
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1010_60
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1009_59
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1006_58
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1005_57
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1004_56
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1003_55
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm1001_54
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0911_53
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0910_52
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0909_51
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0907-08_50
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0906_49
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0904_48
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0903_47
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0901_46
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0811_45
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0810_44
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0809_43
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0807_42
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0806_41
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0805_40
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0803_39
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0801_38
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0712_37
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0710_36
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0709_35
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0707_34
https://www.nxtbook.com/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm0706_33
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com