THERMOFIRE project has completed the first 33 months of execution working for the preparation of up to 100% biobased thermoplastic composites with adequate flame retardancy for automotive, aerospace and building sectors. In the first part of the project, the consortium selected and tested biobased materials; while in the second repoerting period has been fully devoted to optimize the formulations to ensure adequate mechanical performance of the polymer and fire retardancy depending on the application. The consortium has been working in several optimization loops to develop and select final formulations to scale up. It has been produced three different solutions:
1) aerospace-grade thermoplastic prepregs for aircraft seats. The material is being optimized to meet the mechanical requirements and FAR25 fire standard.
2) injection moulding thermoplastic MB for automotive battery cover preparation. It has been optimized for fluidity, impact resistance and fire performance against own standards.
3) yute non-woven fabrics prepared by an air-laid one-step process to prepare insulating panels for building and automotive sectors meeting FVMSS302 standards for car interiors.
In parallel, recyclability tests are demonstrating the capacity of reusing the components for secondary applications. The three materials for the use cases will be fully optimized during the next period and continuous actions related to LCA, LCC analysis will be completed.
THERMOFIRE solutions aim to be high-performance composites with a significant weight reduction (aimed at 20%) and in cost (at least 10%) while maintaining the required levels of safety suitable for applications under stringent operating conditions; being a new door to remove Europe’s dependence on imports of fossil-based polymers.
