Objective This ambitious project aims to develop new environmentally friendly manufacturing processes for the production of lightweight thermoplastic composite structural vehicles (ie semi-trailers), vessels (ie boat hulls) and components at lower cost, with enhance d performance and inherent recyclability. The new manufacturing processes involve developing (i) low melting point and low viscosity thermoplastic polymer oligomers (containing no volatile organic or hazardous chemicals) that are capable of being moulded t o form high fibre content (ie 50% by volume) structures necessary to achieve high mechanical performance and thus to reduce weight, fuel use and CO2 emissions; (ii) techniques to polymerise the oligomers in the mould to form large surface area thick sectio ned thermoplastic composite structures with excellent mechanical properties, inherent corrosion resistance and conformance with end of life recycling directives and; (iii) recycling strategies and methodologies for thermoplastic composite structures. The p roject then aims to develop and demonstrate the manufacture of (i) an aerodynamically profiled 13.6 m flat bed semi-trailer with a 25% weight saving over an equivalent steel chassis and; (ii) an 8 m boat hull with a 10% weight saving and significantly enhanced impact resistance over conventional boats made in glass fibre reinforced polyester resins. If successful, this project would enable European companies to manufacture lightweight, corrosion resistant vehicles and vessels using an environmentally friend ly process (ie no VOC emissions) and materials that are inherently recyclable. This would not only increase the competitiveness of Europe but have a number of major social benefits (ie vastly reduced CO2 emissions, fuel savings, reduced landfill etc). Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryvolatile organic compoundsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels Programme(s) FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SUSTDEV-2005-3.2.2.2.4 - Research domain 2.2 (only for a new generation of products and systems in waterborne transport), research domain 2.3 (for all types of transport vehicles and vessels excluding passenger cars), research domain 2.4 and research domain 2.6. Call for proposal FP6-2005-TRANSPORT-4 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator EPL COMPOSITE SOLUTIONS LTD EU contribution No data Address Unit 10 Charnwood Business Park - North Road LOUGHBOROUGH - LEICESTERSHIRE United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AHLSTROM GLASSFIBRE OY Finland EU contribution No data Address Ahlstromintie 19 KOTKA See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data BASMILER EQUIPAMENTOS RODOVIARIOS DO NORTE Portugal EU contribution No data Address Estrada Nacional 2 KM.179.4 Repezes VISEU See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CYCLICS EUROPE GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Bonländer Hauptstrasse 32 FILDERSTADT See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data RHEINISCH-WESTFÄLISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN (RWTH) Germany EU contribution No data Address Templergraben 55 AACHEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data VT HALMATIC LTD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Portchester Shipyard, Hamilton Road PORTSMOUTH See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
