Microstructure control of materials

Syensqo is a world leader in terms of composite manufacturing and application, with a major emphasis on sustainability.
In the COMPOST project, the promises of recyclable thermoplastic composites are put to a “reality test”, by demonstrating the full chain needed to reproduce stamped and overmolded parts using production waste. Two main mechanical recycling routes are evaluated: (1) compounding finely ground recyclates into pellets suitable for injection molding and (2) direct consolidation of more coarsely ground recyclates into sheet molding compound plates. The effects of multiple recycling steps on the mechanical and physical material properties are measured at the micro-, meso- and macro-scale. Experimental observations are translated into numerical models for use in predictive macro-scale part simulations. Economic viability, environmental sustainability and technical feasibility of the full recycling chain is quantified based on the obtained performance of fully recycled stamped and overmolded demonstrator parts

Contact(s) : S. GODET (Promotor) – A. CHABOT (Post-Doc Researcher)


 

Syensqo is a world leader in terms of composite manufacturing and application, with a major emphasis on sustainability.

Hy-FUEL (Hydrogen tanks: Future Utilisation of Ecofriendly and Light thermoplastics) is a research project focused on the development of an eco-friendly fully thermoplastic high-rate compatible solution for hydrogen pressure vessels for the road mobility sector. The project is a partnership between Syensqo, ULB and VUB, and focuses on the development and selection of the materials for both the liner and composite overwrap. The multiple component nature of a H2 tank creates the presence of different interfaces, both polymer-polymer (or polymer-composite) and metal-composite. The understanding, control and optimization of these interfaces is key to optimising the usage of material in the tank and ensuring safety throughout its lifecycle. To achieve these goals, a building block approach for the characterization of materials for hydrogen applications, from coupon testing to lab scale full tank burst and hydrogen testing, will be developed and implemented. Through all the stages of the testing pyramid, extensive in-situ damage monitoring techniques are used, which in combination with numerical modelling allow a thorough understanding of the material behaviour during the loading processes.

Missions at 4MAT:

1. Interfaces characterization at micro & meso scales
2. Metal texturing and adhesion improvements
3.  Support in microscopy analysis

Contact(s) : S. GODET (Promotor) – A. CHABOT (Post-Doc Researcher)