At this year’s Milan Motorcycle Show, BMW Motorrad unveiled an “advanced prototype” of its BMW HP4 RACE, which the company is calling its most exclusive motorcycle ever. Like many BMW vehicles, it features a significant amount of carbon fibre. The 2017 HP4 RACE is the latest version of the HP4 that debuted in 2013 with one of the first semi-active suspension systems on the market.

The HP4 Race will join Ducati’s Superleggera as the only bikes on the market with full featherweight carbon fibre frames. For the HP4 RACE, the use of composites will extend beyond just the frame.

“The HP4 RACE will feature the full carbon fibre main frame and carbon fibre rims,” said Stephan Schaller, President of BMW Motorrad. “We will reveal more about this model next spring.”

According to sportrider.com, the carbon fibre main frame, self-supporting tail section, and wheels, as well as the bodywork, were likely made in-house by BMW at one of its three manufacturing plants in Landshut, Leipzig, and Dingolfing, Germany. The site adds that BMW was one of the first auto manufacturers to make a significant investment into its own carbon fibre manufacturing capabilities, instead of outsourcing the manufacturing components like most other automakers.

The motorcycle will be manufactured by hand in an exclusive limited series and supplied in the second half of 2017.

Buy carbon fibre, fiberglass and other composites online in Australia at Beyond Materials™

By Evan Milberg http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com

SpaceX has completed a critical test for the carbon fibre fuel tank of its Interplanetary Transport System spaceship, which is designed to transport humans to Mars. Last month, during an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he believes the carbon fibre tank is the most essential part of the spaceship.

The tank is 12 meters (~39 feet) wide, the largest such vessel ever produced. According to Space.com, SpaceX tested the tank by taking it out to sea to see how it performs under pressure. SpaceX wrote on Twitter that the tank reached both of its pressure targets and that the next step will be full cryogenic testing.

In the Reddit discussion, Musk revealed the tank would be “built with [the] latest and greatest carbon fibre prepreg” – carbon fibre that’s pre-impregnated with a resin to make it tougher. “In theory, it should hold cryogenic propellant without leaking and without a sealing linker,” he said. Carbon fiber’s high tensile strength, design flexibility and low density are also major benefits.

Musk was also quick to note, though, that working with carbon fibre wouldn’t come without its challenges.

“Even though carbon fibre has [an] incredible strength-to-weight [ratio], when you want one of them put super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid methane — particularly liquid oxygen — in the tank, it’s subject to cracking and leaking and it’s a very difficult thing to make,” Musk explains. He adds that the sheer scale of it is also challenging.

However, despite potential obstacles, he did note that “early tests are promising” and that “initial tests with the cryogenic propellant … actually look quite positive.”

“We have not seen any leaks or major issues,” he added.

Evan Milberg compositesmanufacturingmagazine

Baltic Yachts’ all-carbon composite, 160-ton single-mast yacht the Pink Gin VI is one pace to debut in the water by May 12.

The yacht’s hull was laminated with epoxy carbon prepreg for its inner skin and E-glass and aramid for its outer skin. A layer of Kevlar woven fibers was used in the forefoot of the hull laminate for added impact resistance. The deck was also laminated in epoxy carbon prepreg with a core-cell foam as sandwich material.

The interior of the boat features structural bulkheads made of Nomex/Core-Cell core CRP sandwich construction. It also features a 67.9m carbon fibre mast. By using composites, the boat’s overall displacement is only 235 tons, Baltic Yachts says is low for a yacht of this size.

The Pink Gin VI is the world’s largest all-carbon-fibre sloop, so transporting it to its destination at Jakobstad, Finland was a challenge. Instead of traveling by sea, the sloop had to be driven 13 miles on land. The yacht traveled at an average speed of about 6 mph during the journey during which roundabouts, a railroad crossing and other obstacles had to be negotiated. Baltic Yachts was given permission to widen roads in places and temporarily remove traffic signs so that the unusual load could travel safely to Jakobstad. The carbon fibre mast and the keel will be delivered separately, and will ultimately arrive at its new owner by the middle of summer.

In addition to the Pink Gin VI, Baltic Yachts is also planning on beginning construction of three other carbon fibre yachts this year, each of which has already sold out.

According to http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com

CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, a leading Chinese train car maker, announced that it has developed a prototype of the world’s first subway train made of carbon fibre. CRRC says its composite prototype is more durable and requires less energy than traditional metal cars. It is also believed to be 35 percent lighter due to its use of carbon fibre.

In recent years, CRRC has sold train and subway cars to 20 countries including the U.S., Brazil and Australia. The subway cars are expected to last at least 30 years as carbon fibre is more capable of resisting fatigue, corrosion, and UV radiation, CRRC says. Carbon fibre is also stronger and quieter compared to metal, the manufacturer notes, and offers in better thermal and sound insulation performance.

CRRC Changchun said it owns full intellectual property rights on the use of carbon fibre for making subway cars. The cars will first be used for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Orange Line. Back in October, CRRC produced the first China-made subway cars for the Orange Line as part of a 284-carriage order signed by the company with MBTA in December 2014. The deal was the first time a Chinese train car maker won a bid in the US market. The company believes the strides it has made with in-house research will result in mass production of the cars.

By Evan Milberg   compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com