Page 2 - Car Broschure EN

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Infrared emitters to dry paint on bodywork is well known. However,
that is only one of the innumerable applications of infrared technology in the manufacture of motor vehicles. From the manufacture of driving mirrors to the forming of carpets or the welding of windscreen wiper fluid cylinders –
on the long road from the manufacture of individual components to the pro­ duction of complete vehicles, there is scarcely a component which does not come into contact with infrared at least once.
Infrared heat is used in more than 200 different processes in the automotive industry. For example, infrared heat helps to remove crease from fabric and leather seats. Welding windscreen water tanks or forming dash boards – infrared emitters help automotive manufacturers and suppliers to produce competitively. The advantage of Heraeus infrared heat is its flexibility to adjust to the highly specialised processes used in car making.
Infrared heat for composite materials
Aeroplanes and motor cars need to be lighter to save fuel but at the same time they need to convey their passengers in total safety. Infrared heat can help to meet these requirements.
Fibre-reinforced plastics are modern composite materials. They consist of a matrix in which carbon or glass fibres are embedded. The fibres instil strength and rigidity whilst the plastic matrix provides good energy absorption properties. Many highly stressed components in the auto- motive sector, such as steering rods, which are subjected to high torsion forces, or elements for side impact pro- tection are made from such composites.
Infrared systems are used in the manufacture of such modern components because they heat these materials rapidly and homogenously and so shorten the processes.
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