Developing a composite Molding of a prototype electric vehicle wheel in competition using an autoclave system

Abstract

This research is about developing a process for forming composite parts using an autoclave system. In this research, a prototype electric vehicle wheel was designed and formed using synthetic materials. Polyester resin (Polyester Resin), Polyurethane foam (PU Foam) and reinforced with carbon fiber fabric (Carbon Fiber) for the prototype energy-saving electric vehicle competition with the autoclave system. Using theories about air pressure, heat, and material strength. To make the carbon fiber wheel pieces come out according to the specified shape of the wheel and the wheel balance center to meet competition standards. In this research, three electric vehicle wheels were created by setting the pressure value for baking the workpiece when the first wheel was pressurized at +2 bar (15 psi), and the second wheel was pressurized at +1 bar (30 psi). and the third wheel is not pressurized. The research results were analyzed and divided into two topics: efficiency analysis and economic analysis. The research results can be summarized as follows. The performance of unpressurized carbon fiber wheels is that they explode when compressed with air at 65 psi, while pressurized wheels can be compressed at 75 psi. The economic analysis found that the process of forming composite parts with the autoclave system has a payback period of 2 months and ten days.