News

See the 4th newsletter. 

The SPARTA project comes to an end with the development of a new recycling solution for aeronautics that allows up to 80% of thermoplastic materials to be reused.

This innovative solution allows to advance towards sustainable recycling by obtaining new high-quality thermoplastic composite products, manufactured with recycled materials, in which up to 80% of the waste is used compared to other recycling methods, and with a production cost between 15% and 20% lower than that of current mechanical recycling and scrap reprocessing processes, thanks to the reduction in the number of operations and the automation of manufacturing processes.

The mechanical properties of the secondary materials that are obtained through conventional mechanical recycling methods, such as grinding, electrodynamic fragmentation, laser cutting or machining, are poor. In addition, these recycling processes require intensive energy consumption. With this novel method, significant results have been achieved compared to the mechanical properties of the virgin compound with an estimated mechanical loss of less than 10%.

In addition, the methodology developed by AIMPLAS and TEKNIKER allows processing time to be reduced by up to 50%, thanks to the reduction of steps for waste recovery and reprocessing through more efficient automatic methods, as well as reducing CO2 emissions by up to 30%, thanks to the use of waste and reduction in the demand for production of virgin material.

It is important to avoid current landfill and incineration practices of composite materials to encourage the development of a cost-effective recycling method and therefore extend the lifetime of materials by promoting the circular economy. The results of this project are fully aligned with the ambitious challenges to achieve clean aviation through eco-design and the optimization of processes and resources, thus promoting the competitiveness and sustainable economic growth of the aeronautical industry. Furthermore, the project results of the environmental and economic impact analysis using the 'cradle-to-gate' approach will allow updating the database of the eco-design Transversal Activity (TA) proposed in CS2.

We are happy to share the final video of the SPARTA project. Find out all the processes that have been carried out to achieve this new solution for recycling and reusing thermoplastic material. The main researchers of the project tell and show first-hand the results of this research.

https://youtu.be/VX15x9IwoZI

In this last period, the SPARTA project has been presented in numerous reference events both in the industrial and scientific fields. Publicizing the final results of the research and disseminating the achievements have been the objectives of the participation in these forums.

• The 20th European Conference on Composite Materials (June 2022). SPARTA Mid-term results were presented at the ECCM20, the European forum for knowledge exchange on the recent accomplishments and future trends in Composite Materials. The Conference Theme this year was “Composites meet Sustainability”, which fits perfectly with SPARTA’s objectives.
• Aerospace & Defense Meetings (June 2022). It is a biennial meeting that gathers the most important international companies and professionals in the aerospace industry. AIMPLAS participated in the exhibition area and provided information to attendees about the SPARTA project.

• CNMAT, National Material Congress (June-July 2022). With around 400 participants, the researchers presented papers on the latest advances in processing, properties, characterization and behaviour of materials with applications in multiple technological fields; structural and functional materials, sustainable materials, materials for ICTs, energy, health or construction, among many others. AIMPLAS provided information to attendees about the SPARTA project in its stand.

• Advanced Manufacturing Madrid (October 2022). SPARTA showcased its thermoplastic composite at the Innovation Area of this event, the perfect place to disseminate this innovative product to more than 15,000 professionals and stand out among the 600 participating brands. This is a real meeting and business point for the entire manufacturing industry, thanks to the union of its three events: MetalMadrid, Robótica and Composites Madrid.

• 12th EASN International Conference on "Innovation in Aviation & Space for opening New Horizons” (October 2022). The SPARTA project was presented in this important conference for the aviation sector. 

​​​​​​​

• K Trade Fair (October 2022). As the leading fair for the plastics and rubber industry, this international event is the best place to present the latest innovations and developments in the field. AIMPLAS offered attendees information about the SPARTA project at its stand.

• Eco-clip final workshop (October 2022). The project has also been presented at the final workshop of the Eco-clip project, another innovative research in the aeronautics field, focused on the recycling of continuous fiber LMPAEK to develop a new material for structural components of aircrafts.

See the 3rd newsletter

Advanced Manufacturing, October 19-20, 2022, is a real meeting and business point for the entire manufacturing industry, thanks to the union of its three events: MetalMadrid, Robomática and Composites Madrid. SPARTA will showcase its thermoplastic composite at the Innovation Area of this event, the perfect place to disseminate this innovative product to more than 15,000 professionals and stand out among the 600 participating brands.

The aviation sector is undergoing a period of transition towards a more sustainable, efficient, and safer mobility. The CO2 emissions reduction is one of the main challenges of the Clean Aviation programme. The SPARTA project is aligned with the strategic challenges of the next generation of aircraft by using recyclable composite materials, thus reducing the carbon footprint. With the aim at demonstrating the level of recyclability of materials, the SPARTA project has developed a novel recycling technology based on thermoplastic composite delamination that allows up to 80% recycled material utilisation for secondary value-added applications.

The SPARTA funding project, framed in the Airframe ITD of the CS2 programme, has reached the milestones set by the time being of its execution period in the Mid-term M22, obtaining unidirectional thermoplastic composite tapes derived from the scrapping recycling process. In a second step, chop material will be laid up automatically and consolidated to obtain a whole recycled composite part. This fact will bring about a cost-efficient alternative to the traditional waste disposal routes, namely landfill and incineration which have unfavourable environmental impacts. SPARTA process represents a more environmental solution in terms of recovery and recycling.

A&DM Seville, June 7-9, 2022, has established itself as the most outstanding matchmaking program for the Spanish Aerospace and Defense industries. AIMPLAS will participate in the exhibition area and will provide information to attendees about the SPARTA project.

The 20th European Conference on Composite Materials (ECCM20) will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, June 26-30, 2022. This well-known conference series is the European forum for knowledge exchange on the recent accomplishments and the future trends in Composite Materials. The Conference Theme this year is “Composites meet Sustainability”, which fits perfectly with SPARTA’s objectives. Thus, Alejandro Sandá, researcher in advanced manufacturing technologies in Tekniker, will present the project in this Forum.

See the 2nd newsletter

SPARTA organized a workshop at the I International Seminar on Plastics Recycling. The Seminar was held at the Valencian Business Chamber and School of Business Administration Lluís Vives (Valencia, Spain), and organized by AIMPLAS, project SPARTA`s coordinator. As part of the workshop, Rocío Ruíz Gallardo, researcher of AIMPLAS`s Sustainable and Future Mobility Group, presented the project. 

Alejandro Sandá, from Tekniker, technology centre member of the SPARTA consortium, presented project SPARTA last 4th of november at the 9th International Symposium on Composites Manufacturing for High Performance Applications, ISCM 2021.

Rocío Ruíz from AIMPLAS, and Alejandro Sandá from Tekniker, both partners of the SPARTA project, have been present at the RECOTRANS Final Conference.

As part of the Event, Alejandro Sandá presented project SPARTA, its objectives, the resulting technological contributions and the expected impact in society. 

The SPARTA project participated  in the poster section of CONAMA Environment National Congress (Spain).

See the 1st newsletter

Circular aviation is responding to the societal demand for sustainable aviation. It enables us to see turning a profit or minimizing pollution and carbon footprint as two sides of the same coin. Its impact throughout all aspects of aviation, beyond in-flight operations is complementing the search for carbon neutral solutions to novel propulsion systems.

The European Green Week 2021 is an excellent platform to raise awareness about the circular economy approaches  tackling resource consumption and emissions along the entire value chain, including production of aircraft, maintenance, and end-of-life solutions.

Join the panel with representatives across the industry, technology, research, and regulation spectrum followed by a showcase session of H2020 and Clean Sky 2 projects working on key enabling technologies.

For more information about the programme and registration click here

The poster contains the main information about the project, while the leaflet contains information about the motivation of the project, its main goal and the approach taken by the project partners in order to achieve the goals stablished.

Both materials are now available for download at the SPARTA website.

As part of the Clean Sky 2 dissemination programme, Aernnova Aerospace SA and the Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering department at the University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) have hosted an online conference on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 March 2021.

The event seeked contributions covering Clean Sky 2 research projects that are focused on the development of new materials, concepts and technologies that will reduce fuel consumption and maximise the efficiency of the next generation aircraft, in alignment with the Clean Sky 2 High Level Goals.

The technical scope covered both airframe and engines including research activities in aerodynamics, aerostructures, aircraft design, airframe and engine manufacturing, onboard systems, certification technology demonstrator development.

In the event, Rocío Ruíz Gallardo from AIMPLAS presented the SPARTA project, which is framed in the Airframe ITD Eco-Design Transverse Activity (TA) platform.

The spanish radio programme "Reto Círculo Verde" from Radio Reto 16 Cimas, interviews Rocío Ruíz about project SPARTA and the importance of reducing CO2 emissions in the transportation industry, especially in the aerospace sector.

Podcast available for download following the link: https://bit.ly/3ep0pte

SPARTA participates in the AEMAC Seminar "Challenges in composites" as a sponsor and with the presentation "Thermoplastic composites from scrap recycling or End-of-life products".

Project SPARTA arouses the interest of international media. JEC Composites Magazine published the scientific article "A new generation of recycled composite materials for sustainable mobility" from Rocío Ruíz, Sustainable Mobility Researcher at AIMPLAS, leading AIMPLA`s activities within the SPARTA project.

In the article, Mrs. Ruíz states composite materials play a key role in the development of lightweight structures that help reduce vehicle weight. The main advantage of using more lightweight materials is the reduction in CO2 emissions. However, there are some drawbacks to using these materials, such as the large volume of waste generated during component manufacture, as well as during the incineration or landfill processes of the materials in the end-of-life stage (EoL).

Full article available for download.

The aerospace industry is increasing its use of composite materials because of the advantages they offer in terms of weight reduction and strength. One of the drawbacks of these composite materials is the complexity of recycling them.

In response to this challenge, AIMPLAS is coordinating the SPARTA project, with the participation of TEKNIKER. Both centres will develop a new recycling method for key waste processing and reprocessing procedures. Specifically, TEKNIKER will contribute its knowledge and experience in mechanical cutting to the development and optimization of an innovative mechanical scrapping process, through simulation and experimentation, while AIMPLAS focuses on improving material reprocessing through automatic deposition and compression moulding. This method will make it possible to use up to 80% of current aerospace waste compared to other mechanical recycling methods, cut processing times as much as 50% by reducing the number of steps in waste recovery, use more efficient automatic reprocessing methods, reduce CO2 emissions up to 30% through the use of waste, and curb production demand for virgin material.

The result will be new, high-quality composite thermoplastic products manufactured with recycled materials at a production cost 15 to 20% lower than current mechanical recycling and scrap reprocessing procedures due to a reduction in the number of operations and automation of manufacturing processes. AIMPLAS will also be in charge of analysing the properties of the final product, as well as preparing a guide with eco-design recommendations for industrial scale-up of the process.

The project began this month and will end in October 2022. It has received funding from the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 within the framework of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement number 887073. This project is in line with SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, SDG 13 on climate action, and SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure.

The AIMPLAS (project coordinator) and TEKNIKER research centres are carrying out this project in collaboration with Topic Manager Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR). The SPARTA Project is framed within the Airframe ITD of the CS2 Programme. Its results will contribute to Europe’s strategic environmental and societal priorities while promoting the competitiveness and sustainable economic growth of the aeronautics industry.

About AIMPLAS

AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, has a twofold mission: to provide added value to companies so they can create wealth and meet societal challenges to improve people’s quality of life and ensure environmental sustainability.

The institute also supports the 17 SDGs of the UN Global Compact when carrying out work and corporate social responsibility activities.

AIMPLAS is a non-profit research association and member of REDIT (Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencia Region) offering enterprises in the plastics industry comprehensive and customized solutions, including development and innovation projects, training, competitive and strategic intelligence, and technological services such as analysis, testing and technical assistance.

About Tekniker

Tekniker is a technology centre specialized in Advanced Manufacturing, Surface Engineering, Product Engineering and ICTs for manufacturing. Our mission is to bring growth and well-being through R&D&I to society as a whole, contributing in a sustainable way to the competitiveness of the business fabric.

This technology centre is a nonprofit foundation, member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance, which has been created through a collaboration agreement between 16 technology centres and cooperative research centres belonging to the Basque Network of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Basque Government, the Councils of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa and the SPRI Group.