A new concept vehicle jointly developed by BASF and Hyundai Motor Company combines key solutions from the chemical industry with purposeful aerodynamic design and specialised high-performance technologies. Both companies will present outstanding features of the RN30 Concept Car at the 2016 K Fair in Düsseldorf from 19-26 October.
"We are very proud to be a vital part of the RN30," said Raimar Jahn, President of Performance Materials at BASF. "Based on our great partnership and our innovation power, Hyundai Motor has invited us to demonstrate the capabilities of our materials in this unique concept." This new Concept Car was created to offer pure driving pleasure on the race track for everybody. BASF's material solutions helped Hyundai to realize even the most daring design ideas based on its impressive product portfolio and car enthusiasm.
Lightweight plastics for efficient performance
As a racing machine designed for race tracks, it is essential for the RN30 to be lightweight and have a low center of gravity. While high-performance cars generally contain carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) to reduce weight, the partners moved away from the fixed idea of using CFRP. Instead they explored new lightweight materials by BASF suitable for high-performance cars as an alternative. For example, due to their outstanding flowability, BASF's Elastolit rigid integral foam and reaction injection molding (RIM) systems developed for body panels permit the realization of even those most challenging designs like the fender and spoiler of the RN30. Combining high quality with low weight, they can even directly be painted thanks to their Class A surface. The RN30 also features semi-structural sandwich solutions for the trunk floor, providing a considerable weight reduction as well as a highly efficient production process. BASF's Elastoflex E, a spray impregnation polyurethane for very light and stiff sandwich structures consisting of a long-fiber reinforced surface layer and a paper honeycomb is the ideal material for these applications.
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