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UK, US collaborate to develop new composite materials

09 Apr '20
2 min read
Pic: Shutterstock
Pic: Shutterstock

Scientists from the UK and the US are collaborating in seven new research and innovation projects to develop new composite materials that can advance component manufacture in a number of global industries, such as aerospace, automotive and renewable energy generation. Composite materials combine the strength of fibres with the resilience of plastics.

The projects have been announced by UKRI’s Innovate UK. The projects are in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and their partner companies and universities in the US.

Commonly used in the aerospace sector, composites are now becoming more widely used in areas like construction (to make whole bridges, for example) and for lighter, larger and stronger wind turbines.

Simon Edmonds, Innovate UK’s, deputy executive chair and chief business officer, said: “Innovate UK has a long tradition of supporting companies to collaborate and innovate with international partners and we are supporting some really exciting projects between the UK and the US. We are pleased to be working with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) which is one of the institutes within the Manufacturing USA programme. The projects being funded are led by innovative UK composites producers, working in partnership with universities and leading research and technology organisations such as TWI and HVM Catapult Centres such as the National Composites Centre and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.”

The projects are funded in the UK by the Fund for International Collaboration (FIC), which is designed to support the UK to form new, and strengthen existing, bilateral partnerships for research and innovation with leading nations with a reputation for excellence. US funding has been provided by US Department of Energy, State governments and private industry.

“We look forward to the opportunity to continue the progress of developing new processes and materials that are driving the adoption of advanced composites into new, mainstream sectors,” said Dale Brosius, IACMI chief commercialisation officer. “Through the partnership with Innovate UK, we are able to leverage expertise and thought-leadership internationally to continue to make a global impact in advanced manufacturing sectors and create new manufacturing opportunities in the US.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)

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