Mouldtex

GENERAL DATA:

• Description: Horizon 2020. FOF-06-2017: New product functionalities through advanced surface manufacturing processes for mass production.

• File number: 768705
• Date of grant: 20/04/2017
• Dates of execution: 01/11/2017 – 30/04/2021

PRESENTATION AND OBJECTIVES:

The polymeric seals are essential components in almost all industrial mechanical processes allowing effective containment and movement of liquids and gases in extreme environments. The friction is intrinsically related to the behavior of the seal. High friction accelerates seal wear, which can lead to leakage and/or premature component failure, and increases the energy consumption of industrial processes .

The technique of (micro-) texturing is a technique applied on surfaces for the reduction of friction in lubricated rigid materials such as for example metallic or ceramic materials . Recently this technique has been applied to polymeric and elastomeric materials at laboratory level and its efficiency has been demonstrated.

The project will develop and demonstrate a novel methodology for the design and fabrication of large volume polymeric components with textured surfaces, which will be designed according to the operating conditions of each particular component . With the resulting design will achieve a friction reduction of >20% for an extra cost <10%.

This innovative methodology combines:

• A advanced modeling software for the identification of surface texture patterns that lead to a significant reduction of friction in plastic and rubber applications and components.
• A mold component design software that allows the proper transfer of the mold texture pattern to the surface of the component.
• An innovative automated laser system for the application of hierarchical micro-texture patterns induced by laser on the mold surface.
• Good practices for molding and demolding using molds with textured surfaces.
• In-line optical inspection for quality control of the surface texture pattern.

The project will establish three lines of demonstration of the methodology applied to: 1) the design and manufacture of molds and to the design and manufacture of 2) rotary seals for use in engines and 3) seals with reciprocating motion for industrial processes.

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES:

• INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO DE ARAGÓN (ITAINNOVA) (Project Coordinator) – Spain
• GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAET HANNOVER (LUH) – Germany
• ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INSPIRALIA SL (INSPIRALIA) – Spain
• FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HELLAS (FORTH) – Greece
• ORP STAMPI SRL (OR.P. Stampi) – Italy
• ML ENGRAVING SRL (ML ENGRAVING) – Italy
• OPTIMAL OPTIK OPTIKAI KFT (OPTIMAL) – Hungary
• SKM AERONAUTICS LTD (SKM Aeronautics) – Israel
• PLASTIPOLIS (PLASTIPOLIS) – France

CONVOCATION:

Horizon 2020. Research and Innovation Framework Programme. Call FoF-06-2017: New product functionalities through advanced surface manufacturing processes for mass production.

BUDGET:

• Total bankable budget of the project: 5,133,871.25 €.
• Bankable budget of ITAINNOVA: 717,062.50 €.

FINANCING:

• Total project grant: 5,133,871.25 €.
• Grant to ITAINNOVA: 717,062.50 €.

“This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 768705”.

SOCIAL NETWORKS:

Mouldtex Web: http://www.mouldtex-project.eu/index.html

Linkedin Mouldtex: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mouldtex-project/

Twitter Mouldtex: https://twitter.com/MouldtexP/