Objective 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. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecyclingengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineeringsocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy Keywords Polypropylene composite extrusion low temperature natural fibres processing sheet Programme(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. Topic(s) SME-1 - Co-operative Research (all areas of science and technology) Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Cooperative - SMEs-Co-operative research contracts Coordinator E.S.P. PLASTICS LTD EU contribution No data Address New Road, Co Durham CROOK United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all PLASTICOS FLOME S.L. Spain EU contribution No data Address Avda Albufera, 7 Pol. Ind. Altero SILLA-VALENCIA See on map Total cost No data ASPIN ENGINEERING LILMITED United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Unit 5, Egremont Close, Moss Lane Trading Estate, Whitefield MANCHESTER See on map Total cost No data HEMCORE LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Lachtmore Bank BISHOPS STORTFORD See on map Total cost No data WHITAKER TECHNICAL PLASTICS LTD United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Springwood Way, Tytherington Business Park MACCLESFIELD See on map Total cost No data CANDEA INDUSTRIAS PLASTICAS S.A. Spain EU contribution No data Address San Bernardo 17 MADRID See on map Total cost No data KENAF ECO FIBERS ITALIA SPA Italy EU contribution No data Address Viale Pieve 85 GUASTALLA See on map Total cost No data SIVEL LIMITED Bulgaria EU contribution No data Address Zahari Stoyanov Street 77 DOBRICH See on map Total cost No data CARCOUSTICS ESPANA S.A. Spain EU contribution No data Address Calle N 5 s/n Poligono Industrial de Picassent PICASSENT See on map Total cost No data RAPRA TECHNOLOGY LTD. United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Shawbury SHREWSBURY See on map Total cost No data ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Spain EU contribution No data Address Valencia Parc Tecnologic C/Gustave Eiffel 4 PATERNA VALENCIA See on map Total cost No data