Název projektu:
PS-FP7_Development of new thermoplastic pultruded profiles for the transport sectors (11 ES 23D1 3M7D)
Popis:
A Spanish research centre searches partners for a project aimed to develop new thermoplastic pultruded profiles with improved mechanical properties for applications in passenger or goods transport vehicles. They look for several SME partners: engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line, pultrusion mouldmakers, manufacturers of pultrusion profiles and recycling companies of engineering thermoplastic resins.
The objective of the project is the development of new thermoplastic pultruded profiles with improved mechanical properties by in-situ polymerisation of caprolactam or laurolactam monomers to obtain polyamide thermoplastic matrix reinforced composites with inorganic fibres or/and polymeric fibres for applications in passenger or goods transport vehicles.
Small to mid-size volume thermoplastic composites production cannot economically be realized with processes such as injection moulding, compression moulding, and extrusion due to the high tooling and equipment costs. For these reasons, the traditional melt processing techniques for thermoplastics resins are not technically economically profitables and must be substituted by the conventional thermoset processing technologies such as vacuum infusion process, Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) or pultrusion. Latest processes require low tool investment and it is possible to use continuous fibres. But thermoset processes requires a low viscosity resins to permit a low pressure injection and adequate fibre impregnation.
The present project is aiming to optimize the polymerization conditions in industrial pultrusion conditions, in order to minimize the solidification time of the liquid mixture and, at the same time, produce desirable mechanical properties of manufactured parts. Catalyst/activator concentration has a major influence on the speed of polymerization as well as initial polymerization temperature. It is important to notice that moisture and oxygen behave as inhibitors in this polymerization method, therefore this process is preferably carried out in a dry, oxygen free environment.
In order to fulfil the objectives of the project, research is needed in the following topics:
1) Study of the catalytic/initiador system to improve the polymerisation of the monomers.
2) Study of the fibre sizing to improve the interaction between fiber and matrix.
3) Design of a mould with the following capabilities: Fiber preheating, Injection and impregnation of matrix Polymerization and Cooling.
4) Design and set up of monomer mixing and injection system.
5) Study of the configuration of the mould to obtain thermoplastic pultruded profiles.
The centre is looking for SME companies with the following profiles:
- Engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line
- Pultrusion mouldmakers
- Manufacturers of pultrusion profiles
- Recycling companies of engineering thermoplastic resins
The engineering companies interested in the project should be used to design and implement technical solutions in manufacturing process. They might be able to design, develop and set up automated solutions for the resin flow control, under high temperature and vacuum conditions.
Pultrusion mould makers are sought to develop innovative moulds for in mould resin injection, under humidity and pressure controlled conditions. The design of the cavity of the mould will be carried out in cooperation with the Research and Technological Developers of the Consortium. Selection of the most suitable materials and dimensions of the moulds, machining and testing of the performance will be required.
SMEs mainly specialized in the manufacturing of pultruded profiles are also sought to implement the innovative technology into its production line. Standard pultrusion machines will be employed to obtain thermoplastic long fiber reinforced profiles. The RTDs will develop the system in their pilot plant facilities, which will be finally tested under industrial processing pultrusion lines.
The main advantages of the new thermoplastic profiles lay mainly on its ability to be recycled after its end-of-life. Thermoplastic resin might be melted again and the reinforcement can be consequently removed and reused. Recycling companies are sought as an active partner of the consortium. They will find new possibilities and markets for the recycled raw materials or even will include such materials in its products or processes.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The proposal will be submitted to the call: Research for the Benefit of SMEs: FP7-SME-2012-1.
The total project budget proposed is between 1-1,5 M¬
They are thinking in a consortium of nine partners with the follow roles (role-country-type):
- Polyamide modifications and mould design-NL-RTD
- Anionique polyamides scale-up-NL-SME
- Fabric supplier-ES-SME
- Pultrusion Mould make-TBD (To Be Defined)-SME
- Engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line-TBD-SME
- Manufacturer of pultrusion profiles-TBD-SME
- End User-ES-SME
- Recycling and reuse-TBD-SME
- Pultrusion profiles and characterization. Recycling-ES-RTD
The objective of the project is the development of new thermoplastic pultruded profiles with improved mechanical properties by in-situ polymerisation of caprolactam or laurolactam monomers to obtain polyamide thermoplastic matrix reinforced composites with inorganic fibres or/and polymeric fibres for applications in passenger or goods transport vehicles.
Small to mid-size volume thermoplastic composites production cannot economically be realized with processes such as injection moulding, compression moulding, and extrusion due to the high tooling and equipment costs. For these reasons, the traditional melt processing techniques for thermoplastics resins are not technically economically profitables and must be substituted by the conventional thermoset processing technologies such as vacuum infusion process, Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) or pultrusion. Latest processes require low tool investment and it is possible to use continuous fibres. But thermoset processes requires a low viscosity resins to permit a low pressure injection and adequate fibre impregnation.
The present project is aiming to optimize the polymerization conditions in industrial pultrusion conditions, in order to minimize the solidification time of the liquid mixture and, at the same time, produce desirable mechanical properties of manufactured parts. Catalyst/activator concentration has a major influence on the speed of polymerization as well as initial polymerization temperature. It is important to notice that moisture and oxygen behave as inhibitors in this polymerization method, therefore this process is preferably carried out in a dry, oxygen free environment.
In order to fulfil the objectives of the project, research is needed in the following topics:
1) Study of the catalytic/initiador system to improve the polymerisation of the monomers.
2) Study of the fibre sizing to improve the interaction between fiber and matrix.
3) Design of a mould with the following capabilities: Fiber preheating, Injection and impregnation of matrix Polymerization and Cooling.
4) Design and set up of monomer mixing and injection system.
5) Study of the configuration of the mould to obtain thermoplastic pultruded profiles.
The centre is looking for SME companies with the following profiles:
- Engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line
- Pultrusion mouldmakers
- Manufacturers of pultrusion profiles
- Recycling companies of engineering thermoplastic resins
The engineering companies interested in the project should be used to design and implement technical solutions in manufacturing process. They might be able to design, develop and set up automated solutions for the resin flow control, under high temperature and vacuum conditions.
Pultrusion mould makers are sought to develop innovative moulds for in mould resin injection, under humidity and pressure controlled conditions. The design of the cavity of the mould will be carried out in cooperation with the Research and Technological Developers of the Consortium. Selection of the most suitable materials and dimensions of the moulds, machining and testing of the performance will be required.
SMEs mainly specialized in the manufacturing of pultruded profiles are also sought to implement the innovative technology into its production line. Standard pultrusion machines will be employed to obtain thermoplastic long fiber reinforced profiles. The RTDs will develop the system in their pilot plant facilities, which will be finally tested under industrial processing pultrusion lines.
The main advantages of the new thermoplastic profiles lay mainly on its ability to be recycled after its end-of-life. Thermoplastic resin might be melted again and the reinforcement can be consequently removed and reused. Recycling companies are sought as an active partner of the consortium. They will find new possibilities and markets for the recycled raw materials or even will include such materials in its products or processes.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The proposal will be submitted to the call: Research for the Benefit of SMEs: FP7-SME-2012-1.
The total project budget proposed is between 1-1,5 M¬
They are thinking in a consortium of nine partners with the follow roles (role-country-type):
- Polyamide modifications and mould design-NL-RTD
- Anionique polyamides scale-up-NL-SME
- Fabric supplier-ES-SME
- Pultrusion Mould make-TBD (To Be Defined)-SME
- Engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line-TBD-SME
- Manufacturer of pultrusion profiles-TBD-SME
- End User-ES-SME
- Recycling and reuse-TBD-SME
- Pultrusion profiles and characterization. Recycling-ES-RTD
Požadavky na partnera:
Requested Cooperation: Joint further development
- Type of partner sought: SMEs.
- Specific area of activity of the partner: engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line, pultrusion mouldmakers, manufacturers of pultrusion profiles and recycling companies of engineering thermoplastic resins.
- Task to be performed:
The engineering companies interested in the project should be used to design and implement technical solutions in a thermoplastic pultrusion manufacturing process.
Pultrusion mould makers are sought to developed innovative moulds for in mould resin injection, under humidity and pressure controlled conditions. The design of the cavity of the mould will be carried out in cooperation with the Research and Technological Developers of the Consortium.
SMEs mainly specialized in the manufacturing of pultruded profiles are also sought to implement the innovative technology into its production line. Standard pultrusion machines will be employed to obtain thermoplastic long fiber reinforced profiles.
Recycling committed companies are sought as an active partner of the consortium. They will find new possibilities and markets for the recycled raw materials or even will include such materials in its products or processes.
- Type of partner sought: SMEs.
- Specific area of activity of the partner: engineering companies to design and automate the resin feeding to the pultrusion line, pultrusion mouldmakers, manufacturers of pultrusion profiles and recycling companies of engineering thermoplastic resins.
- Task to be performed:
The engineering companies interested in the project should be used to design and implement technical solutions in a thermoplastic pultrusion manufacturing process.
Pultrusion mould makers are sought to developed innovative moulds for in mould resin injection, under humidity and pressure controlled conditions. The design of the cavity of the mould will be carried out in cooperation with the Research and Technological Developers of the Consortium.
SMEs mainly specialized in the manufacturing of pultruded profiles are also sought to implement the innovative technology into its production line. Standard pultrusion machines will be employed to obtain thermoplastic long fiber reinforced profiles.
Recycling committed companies are sought as an active partner of the consortium. They will find new possibilities and markets for the recycled raw materials or even will include such materials in its products or processes.
