EXHUME - Efficient X-sector use of HeterogeneoUs MatErials in Manufacturing

Completed

Not Energy Related
Energy Efficiency(Industry)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr GA Leeke
Chemical Engineering
University of Birmingham

Standard

EPSRC

01 March 2013

03 April 2016

37 months

£1,416,867

Pollution; waste & resources

West Midlands

Manufacturing: Engineering

Dr GA Leeke, Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham

Dr O Ghita, Engineering Computer Science and Maths, University of Exeter
Dr P Mativenga, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr L Savage, Engineering Computer Science and Maths, University of Exeter
Professor A Tiwari, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University

Project Contact, EnginSoft UK Ltd
Project Contact, Lanner Group Ltd
Project Contact, The Welding Institute
Project Contact, Kirton Kayaks Ltd
Project Contact, National Composites Centre
Project Contact, Airbus UK Ltd
Project Contact, Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems
Project Contact, Innovate UK

Composite materials represent the future landscape for many industries. The possibility of combining better mechanical strength and reduced weight make composites the material of choice in transportation allowing unique design and functionalities in combination with high fuel efficiency. However, the increased use of composites, automatically leads to waste, either end-of-life or manufacturing waste. It is estimated that in the EU by 2015 end of life composite waste will reach 251,000 tonnes and production waste will achieve 53,000 tonnes. The composites industry, (in particular carbon fibre) is under increasing pressure to provide viable recycling technology for their materials. This is the case because the European Commission has controlled landfill and incineration of these materials.Through research and development of novel recycling and re-manufacture processes, this EXHUME project will provide a step-change in composites resource efficiency. These composite materials evoke difficult scientific and technical recycling challenges due to the mixed nature of their composition. The project will demonstrate to the waste industry, vital re-manufacturing science and chemical/process engineering. It will develop the first data sets and exemplars of mixed composite processing and associated resource footprints that can be used to drive the future of scrap re-use across industrial sectors.This project is pioneering in that it:i) Is the first cross-sector research-inspired use of heterogeneous scrap material in manufacture.ii) Develops novel transformation technologies to process thermoset and thermoplastic composites.iii) Develops a fundamental understanding of microstructure-property relationship in scrap material and in manufacturing process science.iv) Provides vital support to companies to exploit the scrap re-manufacturing technology.v) Evaluates the energy and resource efficiency of composite, re-processing, re-use and re-manufacture assessing the environmental impact and business case

09/10/12