JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #71 - March 2012 - 36

JEC Europe 2012

Carbon/magnesium wheels for high-performance vehicles
-J EC Euro pe 2012
Carbon rims have a noticeable effect on a car’s fuel economy, emissions, performance and handling. The improvement is significant as per the example of Porsche given below.

ur no UK Country of ho

cars on the TV show Top Gear using the carbon wheels. November 2006 saw the first exhibition of the carbon wheels in the he first prototype carbon wheels USA at the SEMA trade show. The reviews were produced at Dymag in the UK were very positive and the wheels won in 2004. Carbon wheels for motorseveral SEMA Innovative product awards. cycles had already been manufactured comRefinement of the production system was mercially for 8 years prior to this, but the pursued throughout 2007 and 2008 with production process proved inadequate for new materials for the metal centre of the the raw materials used in car wheels, which wheels. A magnesium/ aluminium alloy are subjected to higher temperatures. called MagnAlium with very low corrosion properties was used which, combined with A long way low mass, made it ideal for wheels. The carThe car wheels had a lightweight magnum bon rim was greatly enhanced by the use of alloy centre hub for heat dissipation, boltepoxy finishes which had been designed for up face and styling, together with a carbon Ocean Racing Yachts. In 2008, work comand epoxy matrix rim fixed to the hub. Even menced in partnership with Huntsman to when compared with magnesium wheels, develop high-toughness, high-temperature the weight reductions were very obvious epoxy resins for a wheel that would resist right from the start – a minimum of 40% impacts better than metal wheels while per wheel was only the starting point. The having the highest fatigue resistance of any first road tests were carried out in the USA wheel built. The success of the Huntsman and UK in 2005, catching manufacturer resins within a carbon wheel surprised eveinterest immediately. The wheels passed all ryone. In October 2009, however, Dymag British Standard tests. Detailed production closed due to a problem unrelated to the engineering then refined the production carbon wheels. The R&D was then system to produce exceptiopicked up by a new company, nally low reject levels below NRG, which was founded in 0.1%. They first went on sale the UK by Wiet Huidekoper, in 2006 following a major Peter Van Smirren and Bevis launch at the Autosport Musk in March 2010. By SepShow in Birmingham, UK. tember 2010, new tooling had The tuning trade and speciabeen designed and was being list small-volume manufacconstructed for a whole new turers of supercars showed plant to produce both car One of the winner of the JEC a keen interest. Testing wheels and, eventually, light Innovation Programme 2011 continued with the fastest truck wheels. JEC Europe

Made with epoxy resin from Huntsman

Positive effects
The development work initiated by Dymag was pursued by NRG Wheels. When fitted to the car, the carbon/light alloy wheels reduce the gyroscope effect and moment of inertia of the wheel, thus providing: - improved acceleration; - improved braking with reduced stopping distance; - lighter, sharper steering, resulting in better feel and more responsive handling; - softer damper settings, providing more tyre contact and therefore better grip and more importantly, better ride quality; - more stable tyre temperatures and pressures; - improved wheel and tyre balancing; - reduced fuel consumption (3 to 8%); - reduced engine CO2 emissions.

36 jec composites magazine / No71 March 2012

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #71 - March 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #71 - March 2012