Fabrication of Automotive Body Components in GrFRP

The following paper has been prepared to describe the procedures used by the Vought Corporation to fabricate automotive body components in graphite reinforced plastic for the Ford Motor Company Graphite 1979 Ford LTD. This effort was a joint venture by the Milford Fabricating Company - a subsidiary of the Budd Company - and the Vought Corporation.

Graphite Fiber Reinforced Plastic, the specified material for the major body components made it necessary to unite proven aerospace methods with current automotive prototype technology to ensure successful completion of the project.

Areas to be discussed will be the master tooling aid development, high temperature epoxy molds, and component fabrication.