Award-winning thermoplastic composite lattice technology

Braskem and WEAV3D Inc. announced their thermoplastic composite lattice technology, in partnership with the Clemson Composites Center at Clemson University, was selected Most Innovative Part by the Society for Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition (ACCE) and was awarded the Material and Process Innovation Award by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) for its Awards for Composites Excellence (ACE).

Joel Carr, Technical Service and Development Engineering Team Leader, Braskem America, stated, “The partnership between WEAV3D, Clemson Composites Center, and Braskem combined to create a truly innovative and award-winning material with the Rebar for Plastics® Lattice Technology which showcases significant advantages in high-strength and lightweight composites technology. These latest awards from the Society for Plastic Engineers and the American Composites Manufacturers Association are clear affirmation of our success in creating more sustainable materials, helping reduce vehicle carbon emissions, and enhancing the manufacturing process value through material cost savings.”

The combination of WEAV3D composite lattice reinforcement with Braskem polypropylene (PP) enables lighter and less expensive thermoplastic solutions than conventional organosheet, unlocking new opportunities for the cost-effective replacement of sheet metal structures with thermoplastics throughout the vehicle. WEAV3D, Braskem, and the Clemson Composites Center partnered to redesign an automotive door structure from carbon fiber/PA6 organosheet to WEAV3D lattice reinforced polypropylene, achieving 23% weight savings, 50% cost savings, and 62% scrap reduction vs. the original organosheet.

“2024 has been a fantastic year for recognizing the innovation solution that we developed with our partners at Braskem and the Clemson Composites Center,” says Christopher Oberste, President and Chief Engineer of WEAV3D Inc. “Following closely after we won the Altair Enlighten Award last month, these awards from SPE and ACMA underscore the value of WEAV3D’s cost-effective composite forming technology and demonstrate strong industry interest for adoption.”

The Most Innovative Part Award from the Society for Plastics Engineers Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition is selected from nominations of composite vehicle components that are either 1) OEM or aftermarket vehicles on commercial sale anywhere in the world, or 2) development or prototype components demonstrating significant advancement in composites technology. Competition entries were judged on the impact and trendsetting nature of the application, including materials of construction, processing methods, assembly methods, and other enabling technologies that made the application possible.

The Material and Process Innovation from the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) Awards for Composites Excellence (ACE) recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in technology, manufacturing, and product development. Braskem and WEAV3D’s thermoplastic lattice technology was chosen among nominees as the material or process that best contributes to efficient manufacturing and product sustainability. The ACE award ceremony was held on September 10^th, 2024, at the 2024 Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX), North America’s largest composites industry trade show.

Braskem will exhibit at the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) TPO Global Automotive Conference in Troy, Michigan from September 29 - October 2, 2024.