Project

Lightweight Recyclable Automotive thermoplastic CompositE structural parts for large series production.

Code
41F06717
Duration
01 January 2017 → 31 December 2017
Funding
European funding: various
Research disciplines
  • Engineering and technology
    • Numerical modelling and design
    • Polymer composites
    • Materials recycling and valorisation
    • Other product development not elsewhere classified
Keywords
fibre-reinforced thermoplastics circular economy product design thermomechanical characterization automotive applications anti-intrusion beams
 
Project description

Over the past 50 years, the automotive industry has seen a continuous increase in the use of more and more sophisticated materials in answer to increasing levels of functionalities and safety in the vehicles, and it is now mandatory due to the need to reduce CO2 emissions to less than 95 grams emitted per km to make a step change in the weight reduction of vehicles. The current solutions that are under development to reach this goal rely on the use of new materials such as high strength steel, aluminium, magnesium, or organic based glass or carbon composite materials. In that context, the aim of the RACE-TP project is to contribute to the industrialization of a new thermoplastic composites technology based on acrylic chemistry recently developed by Arkema. The proposed solution is based on a new thermoplastic composites technology based on acrylic chemistry, a technological approach that has been chosen initially to answer the technico-economic requirements defined with the French auto manufacturers and tier-one auto suppliers Renault, PSA, Faurecia and Plastic Omnium in the Compofast and FastRTM projects.