A huge potential High cycle molded automotive parts by using developed CF/PP prepregs Thermoplasticity Mass production project Along with these materials and moulding methods, jointing, repair and recycling technologies were also developed using thermoplasticity. Jointing is an essential technology to accelerate car manufacturing; hence the team selected an ultrasonic welding technique and achieved jointing times of only a few seconds. The recycled materials show almost the same mechanical properties as virgin materials. The project’s material development phase has been completed, and the team has proceeded to the application phase. They are now sharing data and samples with major Japanese car manufacturers. In response, prototype design and trial manufacture towards practical use in mass-produced cars are in progress through co-operation between major Japanese car manufacturers and the University of Tokyo. When these innovative moulding methods and jointing, repair and recycling technologies are put into practical use, it can be estimated that CFrTP parts corresponding to 100 kilograms of CF will equip 10 million passenger cars annually by 2030. Hence, the potential market demand for CF in 2030 is estimated at one million tons. So, the University of Tokyo started another national project to develop mass-produced CF in 2011. Under these assumptions, the annual market potential for CF and CFrTP will be about 10 and 20 billion euros respectively. n No81 May - June 2013 / More information: jun@sys.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ jec composites magazine 45http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ http://www.jeccomposites.com