INCREASE

INCREASE: Development of a new high-speed process for manufacturing composite structural parts by thermoplastic injection/compression

The INCREASE project offers a complete innovative industrial approach to the production of structural composite parts based on thermoplastic injection (TP), a proven technology in terms of speed, cost and processability for large series products for the transport market. The automobile industry in particular requires high-speed processes for the manufacture of parts with new materials to make vehicles lighter. Composite materials are the most suitable provided that the cycle time is optimized (30 min for thermosets).

The technological evolution linked to thermoplastic materials and the various projects undertaken so far allows the partners to define a new and better compromise developed in the INCREASE project: a netshape process – high performance TP resin – fiberglass/carbon based on horizontal injection and thermocompression. The technical concepts developed, including tools with optimized thermal regulation, aim to exploit and make efficient the TP impregnation process on dry reinforcements and on versatile and reversible horizontal injection presses used in an industrial island. It is complemented by overmolding technology to functionalize and optimize the performance of the parts.