SAMPE Benelux composites enthusiasts visited the ThermoPlastic composite Application Centre (TPAC) on Wednesday, 5th June 2024 in Enschede, NL. TPAC focuses on cost-effective processing, automation and recycling of Thermoplastic Composites and recently celebrated its 10th birthday!
Our host TPAC welcomed us for a full day program in the theme of “Thermoplastic composites for everyday applications”. Ferrie van Hattum of TPAC kicked off by showing how Twente`s TPRC and TPAC centers are effective fieldlabs for thermoplastic composites application development, often working hand in hand with SME partners from the region.
The first speaker, Coen Meerbach of SOLICO, shared how – over the past 20 years – composites have found their way into architectural applications, from the Abraj Al Bait façade over the roof structure of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam to the carbon fibre roof of the Apple Theatre in Cupertino USA. After a coffee slash networking break, Menno Hensbroek of CATO Composites showed us how their fast forging process for near net shaped parts is suitable to make lightweight articles such as army helmets, ice hockey skates or tree climbing spikes. Winand Kok of Spiral RTC subsequently took us on a journey to demonstrate how Spiral RTC will be a key enabler to industrialize thermoplastic composite recycling. This provided enough discussion material to feed vivid lunchtalks between the participants!
After the lunchbreak, it was time for the 2 winners of the SAMPE Benelux student competition to go on stage. Marion Cardous from KU Leuven captivated the audience by showing how MXene-based PVDF thermoplastic carbon fibre-reinforced composites can be used in the future as a structural material and capacitive energy storage device. Lirian Katz of TPRC showed how UV irradiation helps to provide a reliable bond when curing carbon/epoxy thermoset on carbon/PAEK thermoplastic, e.g. to repair TPC with thermoset patches. Both students represented SAMPE Benelux at the SAMPE Europe event in Belfast.
Willem Lippens of the KU Leuven ProPolis research group showed how challenging it is to predict warping of glass-PET reinforced PVC profiles, even when using finite element modeling with temperature dependent material properties. Finally, our least speaker Aldert Verheus of Verheus B.V./K.L provided the audience with unique insights into cost efficient glass fibre PP composite tape manufacturing and robotic winding.
The very best part of the day was kept for the end however: a visit to the TPAC labs. During this tour, TPAC collaborators told us all about the extruders, 3D-printers, weaving, overmoulding and thermoforming equipment that turn their fieldlab into a unique ecosystem for affordable composite development.
Here are some impressions from the day!
