Fiat partners with Solvay to launch first carbon fiber car steering knuckle

Magneti Marelli (MM), a member of the Fiat Group, has partnered with thermoplastic supplier Solvay to launch the first carbon fiber automotive steering knuckle
.

Car steering knuckles are also called hub carriers or suspension columns
.
These components are often heavy because of the need to support the weight of the car and withstand the steering and braking forces transmitted through the component
.
Traditionally, these components are made of cast iron
.
But MM believes that carbon fiber is also a viable solution
.

Salvatore Sottile, the company's senior materials applications engineer, said: "Carbon fiber laminates have very high mechanical properties, and injection molding can achieve very complex geometries, which can combine the two
.
In addition, by using recycled carbon fiber, product costs can also be reduced.
control
.
"

Steering knuckles have complex shapes and are often cast, which creates challenges when working with carbon fiber
.
MM has partnered with Solvay's Composites Global Business Unit to combine the strength of composites with the formability of injection-molded materials to achieve production goals through an advanced SMC process
.
The carbon fiber automobile steering knuckle produced by this method is 50% lighter than conventional cast iron products and 25% lighter than aluminum alloy products
.

Currently, MM is in contact with a number of Italian sports car manufacturers, looking for market opportunities
.