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Tegris, new polypropylene composite by Milliken
22 Dec '07
3 min read
It won't be long before the Car of Tomorrow is a permanent and exclusive fixture in Nextel Cup competition. And a little piece of Spartanburg will be in every Car of Tomorrow.
Milliken & Co produces the material found in the COT's aero splitter and the protective portion of the right-side door panel. The material, known as Tegris, is based on a new polypropylene composite developed by Milliken.
"(Tegris) starts out as a fabric, with multiple layers manufactured (together) into a heated press," Milliken market manager Todd Kleman said. "The layers bond together to form a panel. The material is high impact, stiff and lightweight."
NASCAR saw the material and liked it for those reasons, Kleman said. Especially for the aero splitter, a new safety feature on the COT that helps stabilize the front end of the car through downforce.
"The (aero splitter) is a piece under the bumper that shields the bottom of the car against the track basically," Kleman said. "What (NASCAR) likes about Tegris is its high dynamic and can sustain impact - it will not break apart. Other materials will break."
With safety being one of the primary goals of the new vehicles, all COTs are equipped with an aero splitter.
The early reviews have been positive. The COT was introduced this year and has already run 14 races. The COT will be used this weekend when the Nextel Cup Series stops in Martinsville, Va.
"The foam has worked really good so far,"said Donnie Wingo, a Spartanburg native and crew chief for rookie Juan Pablo Montoya.
Milliken & Co produces the material found in the COT's aero splitter and the protective portion of the right-side door panel. The material, known as Tegris, is based on a new polypropylene composite developed by Milliken.
"(Tegris) starts out as a fabric, with multiple layers manufactured (together) into a heated press," Milliken market manager Todd Kleman said. "The layers bond together to form a panel. The material is high impact, stiff and lightweight."
NASCAR saw the material and liked it for those reasons, Kleman said. Especially for the aero splitter, a new safety feature on the COT that helps stabilize the front end of the car through downforce.
"The (aero splitter) is a piece under the bumper that shields the bottom of the car against the track basically," Kleman said. "What (NASCAR) likes about Tegris is its high dynamic and can sustain impact - it will not break apart. Other materials will break."
With safety being one of the primary goals of the new vehicles, all COTs are equipped with an aero splitter.
The early reviews have been positive. The COT was introduced this year and has already run 14 races. The COT will be used this weekend when the Nextel Cup Series stops in Martinsville, Va.
"The foam has worked really good so far,"said Donnie Wingo, a Spartanburg native and crew chief for rookie Juan Pablo Montoya.
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