Objective INTERPHASE NETWORK OVERVIEW The aim of this thematic network is to facilitate exchange, integration and creation of know-how through partner cooperation on industrially relevant research for the development of new light weight composite materials in order to contribute to a competitive 'car of tomorrow' based on ongoing research in the cooperating industries, universities and research centers. The technical objective of this proposal is to develop new and rational means of characterizing 'interphases' of polymer matrix and reinforcing fibres in real composites of various fibre architectures and matrix properties. The goal is to find structure-property relations which can be used to produce tailor-made composite materials. The deliverables will be proper bases for improvement of composite properties caused by better fibre-matrix interaction. Thus, there is a strong need of the automotive industry for low cost composites having higher mechanical performances. Various micromechanical (fibre fragmentation, pull-out, microindentation, microdebond) and macromechanical (tensile, bending, shear, impact, dynamic loading) test methods are used to determine 'characteristics' of fibre-matrix interaction. The comprehensive experimental investigations will provide input to computational mechanics activities aimed at modeling failure mechanisms and interpreting causes of, and driving forces for, fibre-matrix interaction. The cooperation proposed includes research groups dealing with micro- and macro-mechanical test methods with the aim of developing rational ways of characterizing the structureproperty relations of defined polymer composite systems and therefore improving the composite properties. The network objective is to establish a critical mass of European research scientists and engineers with the necessary balance of knowledge and skills in analytical, numerical and experimental mechanics of composite materials in order to access the world-wide technical base in this field. The network has also the ambition to develop a virtual laboratory team capable of meeting scientific objectives based on industrial demands of polymer reinforcement from composite manufacturers and end-users which have been up to now beyond the individual capabilities of research groups. EUROPEAN DIMENSION AND PARTNERSHIP The transnational nature of the proposed project is due to its complexity. Seven leading groups in this field of research will work together with five teams of large European Companies. The participation of the Israeli partner is proposed because of its merits in the field of interphase modelling and characterization. This project will produce guidelines on how to tailor the interphase with respect to the requested mechanical performance. The project is clearly of precompetitive nature. It means that the results may be of great importance for fibre and resin manufactures, compounders and last but not least endusers of composites. The main goal of material development is a better cost/performance ratio, with particular reference to automative applications. The results of this programme will be utilized in different ways. Partners will check how far the results achieved on selected fibre/matrix combinations can be 'generalized' and will elaborate guidelines for property tailoring of composites. In addition, round-robin tests on the assessment of interfacial effects will trigger concentrated actions for standardization of various testing methods. About half of the partners are from academia. Their research work is described in the network tasks and includes characterization, modelling and scaling up. The main role of the industrial partners involved is to screen and control activities from the industrial needs point of view. Industrial partners will provide also well-characterized reinforcing fibres and polymeric matrices for composite applications, as well as expertise in macroscopic testing of end-use applications. This strong link between industry and academia will contribute to a successful R&D work on the interfacial control of the mechanical performance of polymeric composites. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Composite materials are made of polymers (non-polar or functionalized) and compatibly sized or surface-treated reinforcing fibres. Reliable control of the degree of adhesion between the fibre and the matrix is required if a composite is to be used as a structural material. Optimization and tailoring of the fibre/matrix interfacial properties are possible provided that reliable quantitative methods for the measurement of interfacial properties are available, and that the mechanisms of interfacial adhesion are properly understood. The research groups involved will cooperate to fulfill the needs of industry. This should resolve currently unanswered contradictions concerning the strength of interfaces as compared to the strength of bulk matrix. The aim is to bridge the currently unfilled gap between mechanical measurements of interface adhesion performed with model laboratory-scale microcomposites and macroscopic tests that are simpler to perform but do not explain the mechanisms of adhesion and interaction influenced by fibre surface treatment, wetting, interphase, curing and/or consolidation cycle. This reserach activity could lead to new standardized methods of fibrepolymer adhesion measurement procedures and to the development of better tailored interfaces and to more reliable and safer composites. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineeringnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual reality Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0201 - Materials engineering Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme THN - Thematic network contracts Coordinator Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden Address 6,hohe strasse 01069 Dresden Germany See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (11) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AKZO NOBEL CHEMICALS BV Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address 76,stationsplein 4 3818 LE Amersfoort See on map Borealis Holding A/S Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address 96,lyngby hovedgade 2800 Lyngby See on map INSTITUT FUER VERBUNDWERKSTOFFE GMBH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Erwin-schroedinger strasse, gebaeude 58 67663 Kaiserslautern See on map KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2,kasteelpartk arenberg, 44 3001 Heverlee See on map SAAB ERICSSON SPACE AB Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address 405 15 Goeteborg See on map SAINT-GOBAIN RECHERCHE S.A. France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Quai lucien lefranc 39 Aubervilliers See on map Shell International Oil Products BV Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address 3,badhuisweg 1030 BN Amsterdam See on map TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET HAMBURG-HARBURG Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Schellerdam 4 21073 Hamburg See on map UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sackville street M60 1QD Manchester See on map UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Mappin street sir robert hadfield building S1 3JD Sheffield See on map WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE Israel EU contribution € 0,00 Address Herzel street 2 P.O.Box 26 Rehovot See on map Links Website Opens in new window