BioStruct Project aims to overcome the technological barriers hindering the use of natural fibre-reinforced composites in difficult structural applications.
Through the development of innovative manufacturing processes and advanced characterisation methods, BioStruct aims to demonstrate that biocomposites can meet the performance, reliability and productivity requirements of European industry.
Led by a consortium of ten partners — including PROFACTOR (leader), Amura, CIDETEC, EnginSoft, IDEKO, Lumoscribe, NOMA Resins, and Techtera — the project will run for just over three years; and has a total budget of more than €8 million. Two strategic industrial sectors are targeted: Wind energy and Shipbuilding.
The project’s scientific and technological objectives are based on several complementary approaches: the development of precise draping processes to control the orientation of natural fibres; The creation of material models that incorporate the intrinsic variability of plant fibres; The integration of nanostructured bio-based sensors for load tracking. All of these innovations aim to increase the productivity and quality of manufactured parts while reducing the carbon footprint of the processes.
Two years after its launch, BioStruct reached a key milestone with the mid-project review, held in Naples, Italy. This review approved the process demonstration of the main technologies developed.
Several major results were presented:
- The polymerisation process of bio-based resins by NOMA Resins,
- The manual draping, vacuum infusion and curing processes, applied to nautical structures by Amura,
- Peelable and removable adhesives that allow for repair and recycling by CIDETEC,
- 3D measurements of manufactured parts by IDEKO,
- Experimental fabrication of a load cell by Lumoscribe,
- The first material models incorporating natural fibres by EnginSoft,
- A small-scale infusion process implemented by BladeWorks.
These advances provide a solid foundation for the development of the project’s two final demonstrators: a wind turbine blade and a 6-metre motorboat.
The next steps of the BIOSTRUCT project will focus on strengthening process automation and the industrial maturity of the solutions developed.
These include the development of an automated roll-type draping system incorporating bio-sensors directly into the dispensing head, enabling fully automated dispensing with optimised strip cutting.
At the same time, NOMA will continue the development and final optimisation of bio-based epoxy resins, including a transparent formulation suitable for the requirements of automated processes.
For the naval demonstrator, the work will focus on implementing a semi-automated draping system, based on a robotic process developed by PROFACTOR, combined with a gripper specifically designed for handling natural fibres.
Disclaimer: Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the European Defence Agency can be held responsible for them.
Contact : Clara LECLAIRE – cleclaire@techtera.org
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