(November 4) Japanese Challenge in Carbon Fiber Composites for Mass Production Automotive Application

To realize ultra‐lightweight mass production automobile by CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastics), we have to solve the problems concerning cost, manufacturing, recycling, etc. As with European countries, Japanese CFRTP (carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics) research is also rushing into the next stage. Several research centers for CFRTP were established in the past few years and a new Japanese national project aiming to pursue multifunctional and ultra‐lightweight automobile (2013‐2022 fy) has started. This presentation introduces these current Japanese activities.