Lightweight and sustainable – innovations for the technical supply industry

Lightweight and mobile with natural fibre reinforced plastics
The natural fibre-reinforced plastics are characterized by their low density, good mechanical properties, low tendency to splinter, and comparatively low cost.

At the Fraunhofer LBF, a new process was used to impregnate different natural fibre fabrics with plastic melt, while simultaneously reducing the contact time, and modify them to meet requirements. Based on an adapted component design of the battery housing to meet the numerous standards, local natural fibre reinforcements were introduced into the housing using an innovative injection moulding process.

Compared to the original housing, the resulting housing impresses with a weight reduction of 30 %, while at the same time increasing rigidity by 15 %, and at the same time addresses the central guiding principle of efficient and environmentally friendly use of resources while avoiding greenhouse gases.

Vibroacoustic metamaterials: More comfort for mobility
Lightweight structures often experience vibration problems that significantly affect the quality of life and comfort in everyday life. Conventional approaches to vibration and noise reduction often reach their limits. At Fraunhofer LBF, applications are being developed using vibroacoustic metamaterials for optimized structural dynamic behaviour. Vibroacoustic metamaterials (VAMM) represent a novel measure for vibration reduction and have advantages in influencing vibration behaviour compared to conventional measures. They are used as vibration reduction measures in a wide range of industries, for example in mechanical and vehicle engineering (e.g. car doors) or in aerospace. VAMMs reduce disturbing structure-borne or airborne noise and help stabilize equipment and increase comfort.

VAMM are structures with specially, mostly periodically, arranged structural dynamic and/or acoustic resonators. The high effectiveness of VAMM is based on the targeted design and arrangement of the unit cells in the composite and the resulting interaction of the unit cells with each other.

The new approaches for sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes with natural fibre-reinforced materials and the lightweight design potential through vibroacoustic metamaterials are shown by the exhibits from the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt at the "Highly advanced materials for a circular world", November, 14 to 16, 2023 in Jönköping/Sweden, ELMIA Subcontractor, Area: InnoDex, Hall D. AT

www.lbf.fraunhofer.de