Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Manufacturing Processes and Digital Tools for More Sustainable Composite Aerostructures

Project description

Innovative processing chain to improve aircraft efficiency

Lightweight composite materials are crucial for enhancing aircraft efficiency, but recycling these materials remains a significant challenge. The EU-funded TOSCA project aims to develop a processing chain for innovative epoxy vitrimer resins, which combine the mechanical performance of traditional thermoset resins with enhanced recycling capabilities. As this resin advances toward certification, the associated production processes must be established. The project will address the entire processing chain, including automated fibre placement for lay-up, curing, reworking, and maintenance. Digital tools will be used to collect data via integrated inspection systems and embedded sensors for structural health monitoring, supporting continuous improvement and progress toward zero-defect manufacturing.

Objective

Lightweight components made from composite materials are a key element to increase the efficiency of aircraft. However, there are persistent problems with the recycling of such materials. The TOSCA project thus aims at the development of a processing chain for new epoxy vitrimer resins, which have the mechanical performance of conventional thermoset resins, but allow the more efficient recycling. This type of resin is already taking the first steps towards certification and there is a need to develop the related production processes.
The TOSCA project will investigate a whole processing chain, including lay-up by automated fibre placement, curing, re-work, maintenance and repair. This processing chain will be supported by digital tools to acquire data through integrated inspection systems and through sensors for structural health monitoring, that are embedded in critical areas of the part. All these data will be used to iteratively improve production, aiming at a zero-defect manufacturing process.
The consortium consists of research partners and industry covering all the processing steps. All of the research organisations are linked to industrial partners to ensure a proper take-up of the results by industry after the end of the project. About 2000 companies including OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in Europe in the field of composite parts manufacturing (mainly structural parts) as well as machine building companies will benefit from the results. Interaction with Clean Aviation has taken place and will continue in TOSCA to ensure that the developments fit into the long-term roadmaps of the European aviation industry.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2024-D5-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

PROFACTOR GMBH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 648 082,50
Address
IM STADTGUT D1
4407 Steyr
Austria

See on map

Region
Westösterreich Oberösterreich Steyr-Kirchdorf
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (7)

My booklet 0 0