5 Feasibility Studies Announced by EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub

Published: 19th January 2022

The EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Hub (The Hub) has announced the funding of five new feasibility studies, following the call for proposals issued in May 2021.

Each award of £50,000 will typically fund a six month project, expanding the national research effort for composites manufacturing in the UK. Proposals were invited from UK academic researchers for projects that addressed sustainability challenges for fibre reinforced composites.

Titles of the successful feasibility studies chosen for funding are:

• ‘ADvanced Dynamic REpair Solutions for Sustainable Composites (ADDRESS)’

Dmitry Ivanov, University of Bristol

• ‘Furthering the uptake of Carbon Fibre Recyclates by converting into Robust Intermediary Materials suitable for Automated Manufacturing’

Tom Turner, University of Nottingham

• ‘Additively Manufactured Cure Tooling (ADDCUR)’

James Kratz, University of Bristol

• ‘Manufacturing Value-Added Composites for the Construction Sector Using Mixed Waste Plastics and Waste Glass Fibres’

Dipa Roy, University of Edinburgh

• ‘Rewinding Tape Laying: can Direct End-of-Life Recovery of Continuous Tapes be a Step-Change in the Sustainability of Thermoplastic Composites’

Davide de Focatiis, University of Nottingham

The Hub employs a flexible funding model to ensure research responds to opportunities highlighted by technology road mapping, industry needs, or the National Composites Strategy, as defined by the Composites Leadership Forum. These 5 new Feasibility Studies are an opportunity to investigate risky and ambitious ideas, which may lead to major collaborative projects if feasibility is demonstrated.

More information about all new projects will be founded here https://cimcomp.ac.uk/research/ as they progress.