July 3, 2008 - ...the composite material is used for 20 percent of an automobile's body, it reduces the weight by 30 percent and slashes 0.5 tons of carbon dioxide a year. "Japanese makers' carbon fiber has the highest strength and elasticity," said Minoru Yoshinaga, general manager at Toray Industries' manufacturing division of advanced composite materials. One of Toray's products, prepreg -- intermediate sheet material reinforced with resin -- is the thinnest and has the highest quality in the...