Johnson Controls has developed a new liquid resin press moulding technique which will enable series production of carbon composites for exterior body parts.

The new process is based on a wet press process employed since 2003 to produce wood fibre nonwovens for vehicle interiors. In the newly-adapted process, a carbon fibre mat pre-moistened with resin is placed between the forming tools and then pressed. During the pressing cycle, the excess resin leaks onto the edge of the mould. This provides a very high fibre density in the body parts.