FUTURES??

THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES: THE PATH TOWARDS ZERO CO2?EMISSIONS IN TRANSPORT

Thermoset matrix composites have thus far offered great advantages in terms of weight reduction and high specific stiffness and strength compared to metal materials. However, critical aspects such as their long processing times, specific storage conditions, and difficulty of end-of-life processing have not yet been completely solved, despite these aspects having a great impact on energy consumption during processing and recycling.?

Demand for thermoplastic composites is on the rise because they offer many advantages, including high toughness, long storage times, easy repair and recycling, improved performance in hot/wet conditions, and the ability to be thermoformed and welded.?

With the aim of reducing time to market of thermoplastic composite materials, R&D actions are needed to establish a clear, achievable roadmap towards the decarbonisation of EU transport.

Three strategic pillars are required to meet this goal:?

1.?????The first pillar is the high processing temperature. Automated high-speed processing of thermoplastic composites helps reduce production cycle times. Nevertheless, higher temperatures are needed for processing the high-performance thermoplastics being investigated in the aerospace industry (e.g. PEEK, LMPAEK and PEKK).?

2.?????The second pillar is the strong dependence on fossil-based constituents (polymers, fibres, cores). Bio-based sourcing is still a controversial topic and the regulations and steps required for material certification have not been completed. Further research is needed to improve knowledge of renewable resources for biocomposites in order to speed up their maturity and reduce the current gap.?

3.?????The third pillar involves the introduction of functionalities in composite materials to reduce the weight of structural parts and components for electrification of all forms of transport and to develop sustainable composite materials for applications in mobility, such as fire retardants, electrical and thermal conductivity, and electromagnetic shielding.?

AIMPLAS is collaborating on research projects designed to address these issues, including SMART5G (smart mobility) and LIGHTCAR (weight reduction in electric vehicles). Find out more in the September/October issue of JEC Composites Magazine:?https://www.nxtbook.fr/newpress/jeccomposites/jcm2209_147/index.php#/p/30