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Hybrid Core Concept

Tailored for ultimate performance!
With our Hybrid Core Concept, you can tailor your sandwich solution to your very specific requirements. we support you to design the optimal sandwich structure (choice of materials, laminate plan etc.). The result is a sustainable product design that has superior technical properties at optimized cost.
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resources and may generate reusable output (recycling). The sum of all input minus all reusable output is the environmental footprint of a product. On the reverse side of this flyer is an optimization example for an upper floor section of a double-decker bus. It illustrates how the environmental footprint of a structure can be improved thanks to our Hybrid Core Calculator.

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Unique about our Hybrid Core Concept is the definition of a sustainable sandwich design. How can you get to that? The keyword in this context is Life Cycle Analysis. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) shows the total environmental impact of a product throughout the different phases of a products life cycle. Each phase of the life cycle consumes

HYBRID CORE CONCEPT

Based on three optimization criteria which are properties (weight, stiffness, strength) price sustainability

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Europe / Middle East / India / Thailand / Africa: Airex AG 5643 Sins, Switzerland Tel +41 41 789 66 00 Fax +41 41 789 66 60 corematerials@3AComposites.com

North America / South America: Baltek Inc. High Point, NC 27261, USA Tel +1 336 398 1900 Fax +1 336 398 1901 corematerials.americas@3AComposites.com

Asia / Australia / New Zealand: 3A Composites (China) Ltd. 201201 Shanghai, China Tel +86 21 585 86 006 Fax +86 21 338 27 298 corematerials.asia@3AComposites.com

HYBRID CORE CONCEPT - TAILORED FOR ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE

Example: Optimization of an upper floor section of a double-decker bus Facts and figures: Double-decker city bus Life time mileage 800000km Fuel consumption 40lt/100km End-of-life scenario Recycling Total bus weight 15t Steel upper floor 560kg Alternative sandwich floor approx. 360kg Dimensions of upper floor section: Length 11.2m Width 2.4m The chart below shows the greenhouse potential for several design options.

The most critical impact is the use phase which is driven by weight. This means that for a typical city bus the impact of the different core materials is minor compared to the use phase impact. In comparison to the steel floor, a sandwich design can reduce the floors weight by some 30%. The chart also shows that in this use-phase-intensive application this weight reduction results in a considerable 30% reduction of the floors ecological impact. A composite sandwich construction is therefore not only lighter but also much more sustainable. Key insights: The life cycle analysis always comprises the total life of a product from cradle (production) to grave (end-of-life).

Each application has to be analyzed in its specific circumstances, especially regarding the use phase and the end-of-life scenario. If the use phase is energyintensive, the ecological impact of production, transport, end-of-life may become negligible. In such application, light weight and energy efficiency are key drivers. Depending on the point of view (energy, CO2 equ., water usage, focus on end-of-life, etc.), different material selections may be favorable. Every kg of a product: uses raw materials needs to be transported may consume energy during the products use phase (bus) requires incineration/ landfill/ recycling Every kg of a product that can be saved improves a products ecological footprint.

The ecological footprint of the bus floor can be reduced by 30%!

Let us assist you to optimize your sandwich design to your very specific requirements! With our Hybrid Core Calculator, we have created a powerful tool to do so. If you want to know more, dont hesitate to contact us at corematerials@3AComposites.com!

www.corematerials.3AComposites.com

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