Core-back technology

Figure 11.1 Core-back technology, which combines MuCell process with a secondary expansion process. SCF laden plastic is injected with high pressure and minimal initial cell growth. The mold volume is then rapidly increased to initiate uniform cell growth.

However, new sustainability issues require R D to be put back at the core of chemical industry. The first element to move in this direction is the development of a longer term vision for the chemical industry, which contrasts the very short term view (few years) planning of several companies and the continuous restructuring of the chemical industry in the last one-two decades. One of the positive signals in this direction is the cited European Technology Platform on Sustainable Chemistry and the related prepared document [6], which plans to define the scenario for R D for the next 20 years. 

The original development was by Porsche, in 1972, but the mass-production breakthrough was by Ford Europe, molded with fusible core technology by Dunlop Automotive in the UK (subsequently taken over by Siemens). Ford s interest dates back to the 1970s, when it developed a manifold compression molded in TS polyester BMC, but... 

Because of their newness, complete panels for A-300 solar cells are not yet available. Moreover, traditional panel construction with its steel backing is not viable for the robot. Thus, we will construct the solar panels in house, using quarter-inch honeycomb sandwich panels (Nomex core with fiberglass facing). The cell will be encapsulated in silicone. Similar honeycomb composite will be used to make the chassis box (Figure 8). The constraction and joinery of honeycomb panels are mature technologies in the aerospace field, and these materials supply area densities of 1.4 kg/m for solar panels and 2.5 kg/m for chassis walls. 

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