EU/China Research on ECO-COMPOSITES for Aviation Interior and Secondary Structures

Fibre reinforced polymers such as CFRP and GFRP are important materials used in aviation due to their excellent specific properties enabling the reduction of fuel consumption. All these composite materials used in aviation are man-made. Renewable materials like bio-fibres and bio-resins are under investigation for a long time but they did not made it into modern aircraft in high amounts yet. The Horizon 2020 project ECO-COMPASS bundled the knowledge of 19 partners from China and Europe to develop ecological improved composites for the application in aircraft interior and secondary structures. Bio-based reinforcements, epoxy resins and hybrid sandwich cores were developed. Recycled carbon fibres have been mixed with natural fibres to increase the mechanical properties in comparison to pure natural fibre reinforced composites. In order to withstand the special stresses in aviation environment, protection technologies to mitigate the risks of fire and lightning strike were under investigation. An adapted modelling and simulation helped with the optimization of the composite design. Electrical conductive composites for electromagnetic interference shielding and lightning strike protection were under investigation in order to improve the multifunctional aspects of high performance composites. The aim of the presentation is to give an overview of the project results and its special background with the collaboration of Chinese and European partners. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 690638 and the Special Research Plan on Civil Aircraft of Ministry for Industry and Information of the People’s Republic of China (MIIT) under Grant No MJ-2015-H-G-103