Název projektu:
PS-FP7_Development of a new Bio-Composite based in renewable resources with improved thermal and mechanical resistance for manufacturing a car internal part with high quality surface finishing (11 ES 23D1 3M7E)
Popis:
A Spanish research centre searches partners for a project aimed to develop composite materials based on renewable resources (physically modified polylactic acid (PLA) grades and colourless natural fibres) with improved thermal, mechanical properties and high quality surface finishing to be used in car internal part as a real alternative to standard ABS grades (Poly(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). They look for mould makers for injection process (automotive) and short natural fibers producer.
The main objective of the project is to develop composite materials based on renewable resources (physically modified polylactic acid (PLA) grades and colourless natural fibres) with improved thermal, mechanical properties and high quality surface finishing to be used in car internal part as a real alternative to standard ABS grades.
The main innovation of the project is to tailor the properties of commercial PLA grades by a synergic combination of different types of additives and processing techniques (injection moulding + post-annealing). This combination will permit to maximize crystalline phase in the PLA biocomposite.
The automotive sector is one of the most important users of plastic materials, only surpassed by food and packaging industries. Nevertheless, the use of renewable components or biocomposites is currently very limited despite it is an important target for main automotive manufacturers in order to comply with EU Directives.
So research efforts in materials are needed in order to favour the conception of new biocomposites that offer an alternative to traditional plastics, with eco-friendly advantages like its renewable origin or its biodegradability. During the last few years, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) commitment to save the environment is resulting in one of the most important Industry development areas, the challenge of zero emissions hybrid vehicles or the endeavour of integrating validated bio-based materials being just two examples, which are also used as marketing argument.
Polylactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most promising thermoplastic materials to produce renewable automotive components. This is an injectable thermoplastic based on starch with proved qualities in the packaging sector. PLA based biocomposites will present similar characteristics than petrochemical styrene (PS, ABS) and, consequently, the potential to substitute them. However, PLA material has certain technical limitations to accomplish with the automotive industry requirements. These limitations can be summarized as follows:
? Limited thermal properties and dimensional stability.
? Low production rate: due to the need of high thermal resistance grades a suitable crystallinity is needed.
? Low moisture resistance. PLA suffers hydrolysis reactions that break polymeric chains during the use of the product, transforming them into smaller molecules with lower mechanical properties.
? Lower mechanical properties than typical technical polymers used in the automotive industry, mainly low impact resistance and low tensile strength.
? Easily degradable material by shear or heat during manufacturing.
? Uncertainty about long term aesthetics and mechanical behaviour under moderate weather conditions.
? Limited surface quality finishing.
Therefore, technical improvements of PLA and the development of a production process to avoid the technical limitations are necessary. NATURCAR project aims to avoid the abovementioned problems by developing new bio-composite materials with improved technical properties according to the high automotive sector requirements. If the technical and processing limitations are solved, the material can be easily incorporated by the automotive industry, thanks that the cost expected for the new bio-composite will be lower than current ABS price.
The searched partner should be a SME that manufactures moulds for injection moulding process and other one producing short natural fibres.
Not required expertise in a specific field.
The main role of the partners are:
Natural fibre manufacturer: selection of fibres, preparation non-treated fibres for the laboratory and pilot plant tests, scale-up the fibres modifications proposed in the project.
Mould Maker: Definition of requirements, participation in the design of prototype mould, preparation of masters for Microwave annealing system, help the injection moulding partners to process scale-up.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The proposal will be submitted to the call: Research for the Benefit of SMEs: FP7-SME-2012-1. Deadline 6th December 2011.
The total project budget proposed is between 1-1,5 M¬
They are thinking of a consortium of ten partners with the follow roles (type-country-role):
- RTD-ES- Compounding PLA and natural fibres. PLA annealing
- SME- ES- High performance Natural antioxidant development
- SME-TBD (To Be Defined)- Scale-up: Natural fibres supply and modification
- SME-SE- Scale-up PLA-Natural fibre compound production
- SME-TBD- Mould design and simulation
- SME-ES- MW annealing system
- SME-TR- Injection moulding of small automotive parts
- LARGE-CZ- Injection moulding of medium/large automotive parts
- RTD-PL- Fibres modification at lab scale
- RTD-ES- Injection moulding trials at pilot plant scale. Part validation
The main objective of the project is to develop composite materials based on renewable resources (physically modified polylactic acid (PLA) grades and colourless natural fibres) with improved thermal, mechanical properties and high quality surface finishing to be used in car internal part as a real alternative to standard ABS grades.
The main innovation of the project is to tailor the properties of commercial PLA grades by a synergic combination of different types of additives and processing techniques (injection moulding + post-annealing). This combination will permit to maximize crystalline phase in the PLA biocomposite.
The automotive sector is one of the most important users of plastic materials, only surpassed by food and packaging industries. Nevertheless, the use of renewable components or biocomposites is currently very limited despite it is an important target for main automotive manufacturers in order to comply with EU Directives.
So research efforts in materials are needed in order to favour the conception of new biocomposites that offer an alternative to traditional plastics, with eco-friendly advantages like its renewable origin or its biodegradability. During the last few years, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) commitment to save the environment is resulting in one of the most important Industry development areas, the challenge of zero emissions hybrid vehicles or the endeavour of integrating validated bio-based materials being just two examples, which are also used as marketing argument.
Polylactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most promising thermoplastic materials to produce renewable automotive components. This is an injectable thermoplastic based on starch with proved qualities in the packaging sector. PLA based biocomposites will present similar characteristics than petrochemical styrene (PS, ABS) and, consequently, the potential to substitute them. However, PLA material has certain technical limitations to accomplish with the automotive industry requirements. These limitations can be summarized as follows:
? Limited thermal properties and dimensional stability.
? Low production rate: due to the need of high thermal resistance grades a suitable crystallinity is needed.
? Low moisture resistance. PLA suffers hydrolysis reactions that break polymeric chains during the use of the product, transforming them into smaller molecules with lower mechanical properties.
? Lower mechanical properties than typical technical polymers used in the automotive industry, mainly low impact resistance and low tensile strength.
? Easily degradable material by shear or heat during manufacturing.
? Uncertainty about long term aesthetics and mechanical behaviour under moderate weather conditions.
? Limited surface quality finishing.
Therefore, technical improvements of PLA and the development of a production process to avoid the technical limitations are necessary. NATURCAR project aims to avoid the abovementioned problems by developing new bio-composite materials with improved technical properties according to the high automotive sector requirements. If the technical and processing limitations are solved, the material can be easily incorporated by the automotive industry, thanks that the cost expected for the new bio-composite will be lower than current ABS price.
The searched partner should be a SME that manufactures moulds for injection moulding process and other one producing short natural fibres.
Not required expertise in a specific field.
The main role of the partners are:
Natural fibre manufacturer: selection of fibres, preparation non-treated fibres for the laboratory and pilot plant tests, scale-up the fibres modifications proposed in the project.
Mould Maker: Definition of requirements, participation in the design of prototype mould, preparation of masters for Microwave annealing system, help the injection moulding partners to process scale-up.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The proposal will be submitted to the call: Research for the Benefit of SMEs: FP7-SME-2012-1. Deadline 6th December 2011.
The total project budget proposed is between 1-1,5 M¬
They are thinking of a consortium of ten partners with the follow roles (type-country-role):
- RTD-ES- Compounding PLA and natural fibres. PLA annealing
- SME- ES- High performance Natural antioxidant development
- SME-TBD (To Be Defined)- Scale-up: Natural fibres supply and modification
- SME-SE- Scale-up PLA-Natural fibre compound production
- SME-TBD- Mould design and simulation
- SME-ES- MW annealing system
- SME-TR- Injection moulding of small automotive parts
- LARGE-CZ- Injection moulding of medium/large automotive parts
- RTD-PL- Fibres modification at lab scale
- RTD-ES- Injection moulding trials at pilot plant scale. Part validation
Požadavky na partnera:
Requested Cooperation: Joint further development
- Type of partner sought: SMEs.
- Specific area of activity of the partner: Mould makers for injection moulding process and short natural fibres producers.
- Task to be performed:
The main role of the partners is to define the project requirements, follow the project development and process scale-up (according its expertise and capacities).
Natural fibre manufacturer: selection of fibres, preparation non-treated fibres for the laboratory and pilot plant tests, scale-up the fibres modifications proposed in the project.
Mould Maker: Definition of requirements, participation in the design of prototype mould, preparation of masters for Microwave annealing system, help the injection moulding partners to process scale-up.
- Type of partner sought: SMEs.
- Specific area of activity of the partner: Mould makers for injection moulding process and short natural fibres producers.
- Task to be performed:
The main role of the partners is to define the project requirements, follow the project development and process scale-up (according its expertise and capacities).
Natural fibre manufacturer: selection of fibres, preparation non-treated fibres for the laboratory and pilot plant tests, scale-up the fibres modifications proposed in the project.
Mould Maker: Definition of requirements, participation in the design of prototype mould, preparation of masters for Microwave annealing system, help the injection moulding partners to process scale-up.
Obchodní firma/fyzická osoba:
Technologické inovační centrum s.r.o.
Sídlo/Místo podnikání:
Vavrečkova 5262
760 01 Zlín
760 01 Zlín
Kontaktní osoba:
Lenka Kostelníková
Email:
Telefon:
+420 739 570 792
