Plastics in the automotive and transport industries

The use of plastic components in the automotive industry has shown extraordinary growth in recent years. Polymers are currently being used to manufacture more than 1,000 different automotive parts. Using plastics as an alternative to traditional materials such as metal gives the industry major advantages, including energy efficiency, durability, design flexibility, noise reduction and cost savings.

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More lightweight composite materials to design railway of the future

The MAT4RAIL project developed new formulations of hybrid resins that will make it possible to replace metal railways parts with lighter composite materials. Smart interior parts were also designed to increase capacity and provide greater passenger comfort.

Biocomposites in the automotive industry: potential applications and benefits

Biocomposite materials can be defined as composite materials in which at least one of the constituents is derived from natural sources. This includes composite materials made from the combination of petroleum-derived polymers reinforced with natural fibre, biopolymers reinforced with natural fibre, or biopolymers reinforced with synthetic fibre (e.g. glass, carbon).

Microwave Curing Composites

Composite components must be cured under very strict processing conditions due to the need of having a reproducible polymerisation of the resin. Currently, polyester, vinylester […]

Types of composite materials

Composite materials are formed by two or more components so that the properties of the final material are better than the properties of the components […]

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The European Project NATURTRUCK develops biocomposites for the internal parts of trucks

The Technological Institute of Plastics participates in a European project to replace the pieces injected with ABS inside the trucks by other ones manufactured with materials from renewable sources. The project has the collaboration of the oil company TOTAL, which will supply the biodegradable material. The project is coordinated by AIMPLAS, which will formulate the new composite and will improve their properties.

Plastic recovery technology: a new more durable and sustainable asphalt

The new asphalt, which uses end of use tyres and caps, package and hanger wastes for modifying mixes, has been used to pave a 2-km […]