Public Funding for C.T.M. Equipment Limited

This project will enable a step-change ina current manufacturing process called wet-filament winding where a significant reduction in the consumption of solvents can be achieved in conjunction with reductions in the volume of waste material generated. This in effect will transform the workplace in terms of air-quality and significantly reduce emissions to the atmosphere. In the new manufacturing technique, a conventional resin bath in not used. Instead, the components of the resin system are mixed on-demand and dispensed using the optimum volume to impregnate the fibres. Productivity and quality-imporvements will be obtained by: - a reduction in the impregnation time via fibre spreading. Proof-of-concept experiments have shown that the properties of filament wound composites produced using the new technique are equivalent to or better than those obtained using conventianal wet-filament winding. The socio-economic benefits of this proposal are very significant. A recent site trial has demonstrated that the so called clean filament winding technology can be retrofitted easily on conventional filament winding machines. The Exploitation Plan for the project consists of three strategies: - new build; - Retrofit; - End-users in the consortium.

The aim of this project is to develop a new pultrusion technique that is environmentally friendly and one that permits new resin systems such as custom formulated polyurethanes to be evaluated. In the conventional process, the reinforcing fibres are impregnated in a resin bath and then passed through a heated die to cross link the resin and to shape the pultruded component. In the new manufacturing technique, the components of the resin will be stored in separate containers and pumped on demand using a custom designed polyurethane resin component delivery system. Efficient and effective impregnation of the fibres will be achieved using a novel combination of efficient fibre spreading and an injection-head. The green credentials of this new manufacturing technique will be assessed using life cycle assessment.

Awaiting Public Summary