HIVOCOMP will develop two material systems that show promise for cost-effective higher-volume production of high-performance CFRP parts:

• Advanced polyurethane (PU) thermoset matrix materials offering a combination of improved mechanical performance and reduced cycle times in comparison with conventional matrix systems, enabling CFRP to be used in high volume automotive applications. (Thermosets are polymer materials that irreversibly cure to a hard solid state through heating, a chemical reaction, or irradiation.)

• Thermoplastic PP- and PA6-based self-reinforced polymer composites incorporating continuous carbon fibre reinforcements offering increased toughness and reduced cycle times in comparison to current thermoplastic and thermoset solutions. (Thermoplastics are polymers that liquefy when heated and harden to a solid state when cooled down.)

The project will analyse and develop these matrix materials, their combination with advanced textile preforms, and optimize material properties for advanced processing technologies, joining technologies (adhesives / welding) and the incorporation and self-diagnosis (sensing) materials. The focus on breakthrough material innovations are complemented by enabling work covering material testing, chemical and micro-mechanical modelling and simulation tool development, as well as life cycle (LCA), cost and recycling analysis, and prototyping of typical applications, assuring that the proposed material innovations can be successfully translated into high-impact industrial applications.

Validated demonstrator parts are to be produced in 2013.

The project puts primary focus on passenger cars, including hybrid and fully electric platforms now entering the market, but it has identified spin-off applications in other transport-related sectors as well.

HIVOCOMP launched officially in October 2010 and is funded under the topic NMP-2009-2.5-1 “Light high-performance composites” of the 7^th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Total project cost is €7.39 million (US$10.6 million); the EC is providing €4.78 million (US$6.8 million). Project coordinator is Prof. Ignaas Verpoest of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Project partners include: VW; Daimler; Fiat Research Centre (CRF); Samsonite; K.U. Leuven; University of Leeds; University of Perugia; T.U. Munich; E.P.F. Lausanne; Fraunhofer ICT-A; Huntsman Polyurethanes; Airborne Composites; ESI Group; Benteler SGL; Propex Fabrics; and Bax & Willems Consulting.

The next consortium meeting will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 25-26 October 2011, hosted by EPFL.