Objetivo The use of natural fibres as reinforcing fillers in polypvopy.lene sheet for automotive applications is becoming increasingly popular within the European Union. This has been driven by environmental concerns, increased recyclability and a move towards more sustainable products and processes. The growth rates for natural fibres in automotive applications are predicted to increase by 4% over the next 7 years. However, due to the relatively low thermal degradation temperature of natural fibres, they degrade under 'normal' processin~ temperatures, resulting in odours, loss of mechanical properties and discclcuration. This has prevented even greater up-take of natural fibres for sheet applications. Technology developed by one of the consortium pa;rtners has shown that traditional plastics processing equipment can be modified to allow for liquid CO2 to be used as a processing aid that allows for processing at lower temperatures. However, this technology is a high pressure and high shear process, unsuitable for the processing of shear and thermally sensitive natural fibres. The proposed project aims to develop the necessary extrusion and mixing technologies to allow for the lowtemperature processing of natural fibre filled polypropylene (using liquid CO2 as a processing aid) to produce a non-woven polypropylene sheet suitable for thermoforming automotive applications. The main objectives are: .To produce a sheet material based on renewable resources with better mechanical and thermal properties and recyclability than those currently on the market. .To develop innovative technologies for low-damage sheet production. .To remove the need for expensive and environmentally harmful fibre chemical treatment. If these objectives are achieved then the SME participants will obtain a technological edge leading to increased competitiveness. In-line with the objectives of the EU and Framework 6, the product and process developed will contribute towards sustainable manufacturing. Ámbito científico engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineeringsocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy Palabras clave Polypropylene composite extrusion low temperature natural fibres processing sheet Programa(s) FP6-SME - Horizontal research activities involving SMEs: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Tema(s) SME-1 - Co-operative Research (all areas of science and technology) Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación Cooperative - SMEs-Co-operative research contracts Coordinador E.S.P. PLASTICS LTD Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección New Road, Co Durham CROOK Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (10) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo PLASTICOS FLOME S.L. España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Avda Albufera, 7 Pol. Ind. Altero SILLA-VALENCIA Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos ASPIN ENGINEERING LILMITED Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Unit 5, Egremont Close, Moss Lane Trading Estate, Whitefield MANCHESTER Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos HEMCORE LIMITED Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Lachtmore Bank BISHOPS STORTFORD Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos WHITAKER TECHNICAL PLASTICS LTD Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Springwood Way, Tytherington Business Park MACCLESFIELD Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos CANDEA INDUSTRIAS PLASTICAS S.A. España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección San Bernardo 17 MADRID Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos KENAF ECO FIBERS ITALIA SPA Italia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Viale Pieve 85 GUASTALLA Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos SIVEL LIMITED Bulgaria Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Zahari Stoyanov Street 77 DOBRICH Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos CARCOUSTICS ESPANA S.A. España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Calle N 5 s/n Poligono Industrial de Picassent PICASSENT Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos RAPRA TECHNOLOGY LTD. Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Shawbury SHREWSBURY Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Valencia Parc Tecnologic C/Gustave Eiffel 4 PATERNA VALENCIA Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos