Cost Effective Reinforcement of Fastener Areas in Composites: CERFAC's major challenge is the design and manufacturing of strong and efficient joints for high performance CFRP aero structures.

Topics related: B-Stage Co-curing, Vario-therm Compression Resin Transfer Moulding, Genetic optimisation algorithms.

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The mission of this European project is to develop breakthrough technologies to significantly increase the environmental performances of airplanes and air transport, resulting in less noisy and more fuel efficient aircraft, hence bringing a key contribution in achieving the Single European Sky environmental objectives.

Our institute is part of the Eco-Design cluster.
Eco-Design will focus on green design and production, withdrawal, and recycling of aircraft, by optimal use of raw materials and energies thus improving the environmental impact of the whole products life cycle and accelerating compliance with the REACH directive.

Topics related: Thermoset and Thermoplastic CFRP Recycling

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As the use of lightweight classical prepreg epoxy composite material for simple parts has became state of the art in the aerospace industry with the example of the Boeing 787 made of 50% composite. Long chopped fibers epoxy prepreg are even more used for the manufacturing of complexed shaped parts and the B787 contain more than 100 parts made with this material. But that kind of material could not be used for crash parts or aircraft interior purposes. New materials made of Carbon PEEK Compounds are going to resolve this problematic. The use of Carbon PEEK Compounds is facing an industrialisation challenge in the aerospace industry which is going to be solved during this project, also called "IFiP".

Topics related: Thermoplastic CFRP, Variotherm Compression Moulding, complex parts direct manufacturing.

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