TPRC, the Thermoplastic Composites Research Center, and the University of Twente hosted the SAMPE Benelux Spring meeting on May 29th. Read more about the meeting in this article!
TPRC, the Thermoplastic Composites Research Center, and the University of Twente hosted the SAMPE Benelux Spring meeting on May 29th. 57 SAMPE Benelux members signed up to participate in this first virtual SAMPE Benelux meeting. First, the participants got to learn about TPRC, a unique worldwide research center for thermoplastic composites founded by Boeing, GKN Fokker, Toray Advanced Composites and the University of Twente. TPRC brings together the entire value chain in thermoplastic composites: knowledge institutes, materials suppliers, machine and part suppliers, the aviation industry and the automotive industry. After an introduction to TPRC, given by the TRPC Scientific Director Remco Akkerman, Coen Hartjes talked about the structural analysis of overmoulded structures at TPRC; Hans Luinge presented the latest thermoplastic composite material developments at Toray TAC for aerospace. Johan Meuzelaar showed the latest GKN Fokker developments around recycling of thermoplastic aerospace composites and Davide Nardi from TU Delft showed how the shape distortion of thermoformed thermoplastic parts can be predicted through numerical tools. After these presentations, SAMPE Benelux moderated a short 40 minute panel discussion with 8 thermoplastic composites experts (see image), handling 4 themes: (1) thermoplastic composites – the material of your dreams ? , (2) challenges in processing of thermoplastic composites, (3) thermoplastics and their place in tomorrow`s society and (4) the business case for thermoplastic composites. Attendees were pulled into the process via poll questions, making the discussion dynamic and interactive.
