Citation
(2007), "Major European research projects", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779cad.020
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Major European research projects
Major European research projects
Huntsman Advanced Materials has announced the company's participation in two major European specific targeted research projects for aeronautics and space applications as part of the 6th European framework programme.
These three year programmes are:
1 Pre-impregnated carbon binder yarn pre-form composites (PreCarBi) – a four million Euro development project, led by the UK's Cranfield University and Toho Tenax, multi-national manufacturers of polyacrylonitrile based carbon staple fibre and filament for technical and industrial purposes.
2 Advanced bonding technologies for aircraft substructures (ABiTAS) – a five million Euro project led by Airbus Germany.
Both are multi-partner research projects involving prime and Tier 1 manufacturers and a wide range of SMEs, research establishments and universities.
The key objectives of the PreCarBi project are to develop new materials and a manufacturing process for advanced composites that merge the benefits of pre-pregging and liquid composite moulding technologies using pre-impregnated binder yarns. Huntsman's role within this programme is to develop a new toughened resin system suitable for infusion and compatible with the polymer binder. Huntsman will also be actively involved with the scale-up and processing of the binder yarn developed by Toho Tenax Europe and in-depth characterisation of the resin and binder materials.
The ABiTAS project addresses structural paste adhesive bonding, surface pre-treatments for Titanium and CFRP, automation, and processing.
Huntsman has a lead role within this project to manage a sub-group of the consortium in order to develop new chemistries for use in structural paste adhesives. This is primarily targeted at cure-on-command or dual-cure technologies and retention of hot/wet properties. Huntsman will also support the automation and fit-analysis modelling to provide gap adapted application of the paste adhesive.
Both these major three year research programmes will utilise the resources and facilities of the Huntsman site in Basel, Switzerland. The projects are due to start in Autumn 2006.