A suite of composite technology research and development programmes have been granted French state research and development funding as part of the country's Epicea regional advanced composites development programme.
Epicea is a two-year public/private funding programme offering businesses up to €2 million ($2.57 million) in development funds from state industrial research body Drire and the Midi-Pyrénées region.
Five projects were given the green light to launch in November as part of an "Objectif Composite" programme, designed to boost the regional composites supply chain by developing industrial and research capabilities in innovative aerospace products, focusing on manufacturing processes and the design of aircraft structural parts. The projects in which 12 regional businesses and five laboratories or technical centres are collaborating include:
Cameleon, to design "safety" composite panels preventing explosive decompression, fire and breakage to be led by Mecahers, Clairis Technologies, Aerofonctions and CRITT Mécanique & Composite
Pimoc, to design and manufacture moulded composite parts to mimic the isotropic mechanical characteristics of aluminium, led by EquipAero in partnership with Conseil & Technique and Critt Mécanique & Composite
Canacomp, to develop a high-temperature structural material led by BTS Industrie in partnership with Ateca, Airbus France and Cirimat laboratory
Ujec, to determine operating parameters for the milling of composites using high-pressure water, led by Jedo Technologies in partnership with Mipnet Industries and the Laboratoire de Genie Mecanique de Toulouse
RT21, to develop three dimensional glassfibre and carbon linings used in injection and infusion processes, led by Mipnet Industries, Textile Aero Tarn, Jedo Technologies, Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse, the CROMeP laboratory within the Ecole des Mines d'Albi Carmaux and the Laboratoire de Génie Mécanique de Toulouse.
Source: Flight International
