Structural wiring

Purpose and goal:

The project was started to investigate the conditions for integrating electrical conductors into a structural detail made of composite material or polymer. The goal was to clarify the prerequisites for this integration of function in a detail and to provide answers to how this solution affected important properties such as mechanical properties, electrical shielding, fire and integration with other electronic components. The project has produced results that support further development of the technology.

Expected results and effects:

The project has shown that there are great opportunities to integrate electrically conductive functionality in parts made with polymer or composite materials. This integration of functions into details within vehicles leads to savings in the form of the polymers traditionally used to insulate cables. Through increased use of the new conductor materials that the project investigated, the use of metals can also be reduced. Automated assembly can also be carried out to a greater extent.

Approach and implementation:

The project has examined the conditions for using this type of detail in the automotive industry. Some parts have been carried out through physical testing, while others, where appropriate, have been analyzed analytically in order to best contribute with knowledge in the field. The project has had recurring meetings where partial results were presented and discussed and where the way forward in the project was determined.

Through these sub-moments, knowledge has been built which at the end of the project was used to show the technology by building demonstrators.