Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence

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A partnership based on technological innovation

The Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence will support the Canadian automotive industry in developing next-generation vehicles with lighter, more durable parts, that are safe, affordable, environmentally friendly, and fuel efficient.

The Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence will be equipped with leading-edge moulding equipment for polymer composites. This will provide teams from Magna Exteriors and Interiors, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., and the NRC Industrial Materials Institute with the tools needed to work together on developing lightweight and durable automotive parts using composites such as Direct Long Fibre Thermoplastics (D-LFT) and Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC).

These technologies have been identified as the best prospects for reducing the weight of structural car parts, making them more fuel efficient and affordable. This means big savings for the automotive industry and accelerating the development of all-electric vehicles.

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Thermoplastic composites and D-LFT

Thermoplastic composite materials have numerous qualities. Here’s what makes them so useful:

• Light weight and high performance
• Environmentally friendly, recyclable and no VOCs
• Can utilize bio-sources (both reinforcements and resins)
• Cost effectiveness through in-line compounding
• Material recipe flexibility with in-line compounding and use of engineering resins and blends

Direct Long Fibre Thermoplastic (D-LFT) Process

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The SMC Technology–Direct Sheet Moulding Compound

The Direct Sheet Moulding Compound (D-SMC) and Green SMC have the advantage of using the in-line maturation and direct moulding of filled paste method.

Direct Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC))

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Industrial applications

Structural automotive and transportation parts are the main industrial applications on which R&D will be focused.

Typical Applications: Running Boards and Front End Structure

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A leader in thermoplastic composites

Thanks to a multidisciplinary team of experts coming from NRC and Magna, the Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence will reinforce Canada’s position as leader in the development of thermoplastic composite technology. The new research facility is expected to be operational in summer 2010.

The development team of engineers, designers, material experts, machine technicians and testing lab personnel is already at work. It will be fully supported by the research and development capability of NRC-IMI and Magna Exteriors and Interiors.

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State of the art facilities

Magna International and the NRC have made a significant investment to build unique, state-of-the-art facilities that feature the equipment necessary for process development, characterization and industrial prototyping. The Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence is located at Magna Exterior and Interior Product and Process Development site at Concord, Ontario.

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An invitation to collaborate with the Centre

The Magna-NRC Composites Centre of Excellence is open to R&D collaboration with third parties and SMEs as well as academia.

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Contact us

Industrial Materials Institute
75 de Mortagne blvd.
Boucherville, Quebec J4B 6Y4

Martin N. Bureau, eng. Ph.D. Group Leader Advanced Polymer Composites Tel.: (450) 641-5179 Fax: (450) 641-5105 Email: Martin.Bureau@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca

Related Information

Manufacturing of Direct Long Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics (D-LFT)

Institutes:

• NRC Industrial Materials Institute