Mass production of lightweight materials

ENLIGHTEN

Onderzoekers ontwikkelen een ontwerp- en productiemethode voor de productie van grote constructies met lichtgewicht materialen. Het doel is om dit in te zetten voor het verhogen van het productietempo op een veilige manier en tegen beperkte kosten.

Mass production of lightweight materials

Duration2022 - 2026

Partners TU Delft, Airborne, Airbus, Aniform, Autodesk, Boeing, Boikon, Bosch, Cato, Composites NL, DSM, DTC, Eindhoven University of Technology, Engel, e‐Xstream, GKN/Fokker, HAN University of Applied Sciences, JLR, KVE, M2i, Province of Overijssel, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, SET Europe, Solvay, TNO‐BMC, Toray Advanced Composites, TPRC, University of Twente, University of Warwick, Victrex.

ENLIGHTEN

The lighter the means of transport, the less fuel it uses and the fewer CO² emissions it produces. Hence the high level of interest of automotive and aircraft manufacturers in lightweight materials that are strong enough to ensure passenger safety.

Thermoplastic composites – fibre-reinforced plastics that become soft when heated – are light, strong and easy to work with and recycle. This relatively new material is already being used to make individual components for aircraft fuselages or wings, for example. However, it is not yet widely used.

Within the ENLIGHTEN programme, a multidisciplinary team of researchers is developing a scientifically proven design and production method for making reliable larger structures using this material in a targeted, reproducible and cost-effective way.

Purpose

SAM XL supports the assembly and integration of smaller thermoplastic composite components into larger structures. The material design and processing technologies emerging from the ENLIGHTEN program will especially facilitate the integration of large aerospace structures.

Funding

This project has received funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

More information

Find more information at www.nwo.nl/en/researchprogrammes/perspectief/previous-awards/enlighten-enabling-integrated-lightweight-structures.

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