Objective It has been demonstrated that by adding wood particles or wood fibres to a thermoplastic matrix, the stiffness, insulating properties and thermal stability of the resulting composite (wood-plastic or wood-polymer-composite, WPC) may be significantly improved. Simultaneously, production costs can be decreased due to the replacement of synthetic polymers with a renewable feedstock, i.e. wood. Assuming that in approximately 50-60 years, oil and fossil-fuel based products will no longer be available, the availability of the plastic window on the market can be significantly extended by adding at least 50% wood particles or fibres to a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The objective of this research project is to develop and manufacture a wood-plastic composite window profile for the European market. Our consortium will systematically investigate all steps required to produce a WPC window profile prototype, including identification of suitable raw materials for formulations (natural fillers or fibres, thermoplastics (PP, PE, PVC), coupling agents, UV protection agents, etc.), compounding, extrusion, die manufacturing, profile bonding, and development of suitable coatings. This project will contribute to the knowledge on WPC material properties and create novel applications for WPC. As significant growth potential for the European window industry has been identified, opportunities for sales of WPC windows as a substitute for PVC windows exist, especially in Eastern Europe. In the long term, theoretically, WPC windows could replace the total market share of PVC windows in Europe (over 40 %). Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) FP7-SME - Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs Topic(s) SME-1 - Research for SMEs Call for proposal FP7-SME-2008-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme BSG-SME - Research for SMEs Coordinator FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV EU contribution € 18 250,00 Address HANSASTRASSE 27C 80686 Munchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Walter Krause (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all FENTECH AG Switzerland EU contribution € 102 000,00 Address Spluegenstrasse 9 9008 ST GALLEN See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Hanspeter Kuster (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HakaGerodur AG Switzerland EU contribution € 500,00 Address Mooswiesstrasse 67 9200 GOSSAU See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Thierry Bauer (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TELEPLAST GMBH & CO. KG Germany EU contribution € 117 250,00 Address Petzvalstrasse 37 38104 Braunschweig See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jörg Brüche (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SAMP SRL Italy EU contribution € 76 000,00 Address Via Duca degli Abruzzi 49 21100 VARESE See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Fabio Soffiantini (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data BERNER FACHHOCHSCHULE Switzerland EU contribution € 1 700,00 Address FALKENPLATZ 24 3012 Bern See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Urs Uehlinger (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data