LAY-UP YARN For further processing, different numbers of fibers are wound together to form different types of filament yarns. In the future, these yarns could also contain carbon nanotubes, tiny pipes with walls made of carbon atoms, to achieve an interlocking effect. Benefits would include significantly higher heat resistance (300°C compared to 240°C) of the carbon fiber components. Carbon fiber has a far higher strength and stiffness in the fiber direction than perpendicular to it. Depending on the component, layers of fibers are therefore arranged in different directions to achieve the desired strength and stiffness in all relevant load-bearing directions. This operation is usually performed by highly sophisticated weaving, braiding or winding machines. Or carbon fibers reinforced with nanotubes and nanotube yarn, a research project in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research in Dresden and the Bremen Fiber Institute. Other Group brands are also currently hard at work on ways to broaden the range of carbon fiber applications. According to Luciano De Oto, Head of the Advanced Composites Structures Development Center at Lamborghini, carbon fiber is today only slightly more expensive to produce than aluminum. The Audi subsidiary in Northern Italy has been one of the worldwide leaders in carbon fiber research since it started using the material on the Countach Quattrovalvole back in 1985. Today, the entire monocoque of the Aventador², for example, is made of carbon fiber – all built in-house. The complete body of the Centenario³ is, too, while the Sesto Elemento is almost entirely made of the material. Lamborghini processes about 400 tonnes of carbon fiber a year. “Over the last five years we have developed technologies that enable us to produce ever larger quantities of increasingly complex parts. It won’t be long before we see carbon fiber being used not just in super sports cars,” De Oto says. 76 Carbon fiber frame, swingarm and wheels: Ducati 1299 Superleggera. Take Ducati, for example. The Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer, also a subsidiary of Audi AG, has been using carbon fiber for many years, and in a growing number of applications. Ducati began by producing carbon fiber fairings and guards, and for a good ten years now the motorcycle manufacturer has also been using the material for structural parts on its machines. This has a positive effect. The motorcycles weigh less, fuel consumption is reduced, and driving pleasure is intensified. “Making lightweight construction cost- effective is a challenge,” says Simone Di Piazza, Head of Vehicle Design and R&D Services at Ducati. “The smart use of carbon fiber helps us to overcome these obstacles.” Carb role for the automoti era. Batteries are hea must be as light as p
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