Teijin announced on April 26 that GF-SMC (Glass Fiber Sheet Molding Compound) developed by the Teijin Group has been adopted by Lotus Cars for the doors, rear quarters, and tailgate of its new sports car, the Emila.
GF-SMC is an intermediate material made by impregnating thermosetting resin into glass fiber and forming it into a sheet, The GF-SMC base material is manufactured at TAT's Poincé plant in France and molded at the Lesa de Barrio plant in Portugal.
TCA Ultra Lite, an ultra-lightweight molding material based on GF-SMC, is used for the exterior panels of the Emira's doors, rear quarter, and tailgate. TCA Ultra Lite is a molded component that combines TAT's proprietary vacuum technology and adhesive treatment. In addition to being up to 40% lighter than conventional composite parts and equivalent in weight to aluminum, the product has superior strength and durability, is resistant to dents, and does not rust, according to the company.
In addition, it has the same surface smoothness as conventional metal panels, making it suitable for electrodeposition coating, which is essential on automobile mass production lines, and achieving the "Class A" quality required for the coating of exterior panel parts. In addition, the thin-walled and complex shape from the door to the rear quarter, which is difficult to achieve with metal materials, is integrally molded to ensure air flow toward the air intake port and to provide adequate air intake and cooling for the engine section.
On the other hand, the inner panel of the tailgate is made of low-density GF-SMC, whose strength has been optimized for structural components, to ensure the strength required for the body frame.
