Use Cases

r-LightBioCom’s project results will be validated through use-cases in the automotive sector, infrastructure sector and aeronautic sector.

AUTOMOTIVE: Exterior and Interior Components

r-LightBioCom results can be applied in several components of the automotive sector. However, the project considers two applications – one for an exterior component and another for an interior component.

Application 1: Spoiler (exterior application, dismountable)

At present, there are no automotive carbon fibre-reinforced exterior component applications using bio-based and recyclable resins. For such exterior components, the demand to use sustainable materials opened the possibility to replace carbon fibres with natural fibre fabrics and UD impregnated with epoxy resins.

Application 2: Trunk floor (interior application)

To realise structural components for static load resistance components, as the trunk floor, a multilayer technology is currently applied.

r-LightBioCom’s added value

r-LightBioCom will increase the green content of composite components by introducing bio-based resins and natural fibres that also allow recyclabing at the end of life. Final components will be expected to have more than 70% bio-based content in semi-structural applications.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Tunnel Lining Applications

r-LightBioCom results can be applied in several construction elements of the infrastructure sector, but the application considered for this use-case is: Composite pultruded profiles for tunnel lining; concretely lightweight pultruded profiles that protect bored tunnel efficiently from water leakage problems.

Application: Composite pultruded profiles for tunnel lining

Water infiltration is one main cause for deterioration of the tunnel structure and its components. Europe’s severe orography and weather conditions can cause infrastructure deterioration at some point of the tunnel service life, leading to tunnel work’s schedule delays and cost overruns, related to the high maintenance and repairs operation needed to ensure compliance with tunnels safety norms. Current solutions provided by the market are not able to guarantee a long-term durability.

r-LightBioCom added value

r-LightBioCom’s new materials will enable innovative pultruded high performance composite (HPC) profiles based on bio-based resins and alternatives to glass fibres and carbon fibres for civil infrastructure applications where HPC have better properties than conventional materials (such as concrete, wood or steel). The structural profiles will be significantly more sustainable (up to 70% recyclable and 50% bio-based/natural sources) and have less environmental impact (30% for the whole life cycle of the materials).

AERONAUTICS: VERTICAL STABILIZER PANEL APPLICATION

The potential for applications of the r-LightBioCom results in the aeronautical sector are broad, but for this use case a vertical stabilizer panel of empennage system was selected. The main objective of this use case is to compare the r-LightBioCom materials with those used at present in aeronautical parts in order to identify further applications for these new recycled materials.

Application: Vertical stabilizer pannel of empennage system

Weight is one of the most important aspects in the aviation sector, also because it is related to fuel consumption. For this reason, the aeronautics industry primarily uses lightweight materials that can withstand the various conditions to which an aircraft is exposed during its service life. As more and more parts are produced as composites, a solution must be found for recycling these parts after their service life has ended. Although some partial recycling processes have been developed, none of them are efficient enough and environmentally friendly. For this reason, a closed-loop process for composite parts is needed.

r-LightBioCom added value

r-LightBioCom aims at demonstrating that recycled materials will be able to match the mechanical properties of fibres and resins currently used in the aeronautical sector. r-LightBioCom’s results will enable the aeronautic sector to make appropriate and sustainable use of available resources.
Currently the use of composites corresponds to around 40% of the aircraft weight, and its use will increase in the coming years. Therefore, the commercialisation of bio-resin and recyclable fibre would contribute to the production of more environmentally friendly aircrafts. Also, new curing techniques developed in r-LightBioCom will reduce processing times and thereby reduce manufacturing costs and emissions.