Page 4 - Shimadzu Journal vol.6 Issue1

Insight from Customer

Interview with Dr. Gunnar Merz

We interviewed Dr. Gunnar Merz, CEO of CFK Valley e.V. in Germany. The CFK Valley e.V. is an established World-wide
competence network for carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP, German abbreviation is CFK). More than 100
international companies, research facilities and universities are organized in the non-profit association.

Dr. Gunnar Merz, thank you very much for your time for stiffness in the compound. Apart from this, further convincing
this interview. At first, could you briefly introduce the CFK advantages are fatigue behavior, resistance to corrosion, low thermal
Valley? The purpose of establishment of this organization, expansion and a good damping capacity at low density (2/3 of
when it was established what encouraged you to establish aluminum, 1/5 of steel).
it, the role in the network, and so on.

Considering these characteristics, CFRP is best suitable for the
In 2004. seven members established CFK Valley e. V. in Stade. These
included Airbus, CTC, Saertex, Hexcel Composites, German Aerospace manufacture of products, which must be light, but at the same time
Centre, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and should show a high stability. CFRP has the same strength as metals and
Advanced Materials, and the Hanseatic City of Stade. In the same year is being used today in more and more innovative application areas, for
the CFK Valley Technology Centre Stade, is inaugurated. We have now example, in airplanes. Lighter-weight parts create faster vehicles, which
become an internationally recognized competency network for CFRP. can also create more energy-saving airplanes. Other than the airplanes,
the applications expand to automobiles, ships, rotor blades for wind
Around 120 national and international companies and research
power plants, medical technology, or also in construction, where
institutes are now part of the network and are promoting like this the
products made from CFRP are being used in roof construction right up
fiber composite technology as industrial production technology. Various
to building complete houses.
work groups have already been initiated along the value-addition chain
and a technology roadmap is updated on a regular basis.

Why CFRP? Could you explain to us about CFRP
application and its potential usage for the future after
briefly outlining what CFRP is?

CFRP is a so-called composite material. Carbon fibers are embedded in a
matrix, which consists of duroplastic epoxy resin or thermoplastic
synthetic materials, and is brought into shape. This results in excellent
mechanical properties, such as an extremely high tensile strength and

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