Project description
Enabling the further exploitation of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites
Lightweight and strong, carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites are finding increased applications in many areas – from aeroplanes, sailboats and motorcycles to laptops, fishing rods and golf clubs. The EU-funded ProTHiC project will develop materials, manufacturing, tooling and processing simulations technologies to further promote the use of carbon fibre reinforced composites, particularly in applications where the temperature requirements exceed 200 °C. Currently, titanium and superalloys are used in precisely these conditions. Specifically, the project will develop and characterise polyimide resins tailored for processing with resin transfer moulding. It will also establish a simulation-assisted tool design process.
Objective
Process Simulation and Tool Compensation Methodology for High Temperature Composite Processes.
The overall objective of ProTHiC is to develop materials, manufacturing, tooling and processing simulations technologies that enables further exploitation of carbon fibre-reinforced composites in applications where the temperature requirements are exceeding 200°C where currently only titanium or super-alloys are being used.
ProTHiC will place its main efforts to:
- Develop and characterize polyimide resins tailored for processing with RTM
- develop, adapt and when necessary modify state-of-the-art processing simulation methodologies (curing and mould filling) to also work for high temperature composites
- Validate simulation methodologies by against experimental data obtained from manufacturing trials performed on sub-components with simplified geometry (e.g. L- and T-profiles)
- Establish a simulation assisted tool design process that integrates processing simulation methodologies with methodologies for tool compensation
- Demonstrate the above-mentioned technologies by manufacturing of a demonstrator component that is defined together with the topic manager.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CS2-RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
941 26 Pitea
Sweden