Aluminum Bio Composite Hybrid Laminate (ABC-Laminate) – step 1

The ABC laminate project aims to test the hypothesis with a laminate material consisting of thin aluminum sheet in combination with biocomposites (focus will be on a PLA concept). The material group already exists today and is called FML – Fiber Metal Laminates. One of the commercial materials of the FML type is GLARE (Glass laminate aluminum-reinforced epoxy) which, among other things, is used in the fuselage of the Airbus A380 in order to reduce weight with good impact and damping properties.

The primary difference from ABC laminate is that today’s composite layers consist of a thermoset-based matrix reinforced with fiberglass, which will be replaced with a structural biocomposite. It is then estimated that the ABC laminate will reduce emissions by replacing a fossil-based composite with a bio-based material which then offers weight reduction (thanks to reduced density of the material) with retained impacts and damping properties. Thus the material concepts supports the UN’s sustainability goals. The assessment is also that the formability should be improved and the price should be able to be reduced. In the project, test materials will be produced and tested for material quality, material properties and performance.

In addition, the project intends to evaluate formability and process parameters, as well as the environmental impact by conducting life cycle analysis and compare with competing materials. Through results from the test, there will be an assessment for future activities and its potential to compete with existing materials. The hypothesis testing will be a collaboration between the aluminum sheet supplier Gränges AB, the Danish biocomposite supplier Comfil ApS and the research institute RISE.

Participants

Gränges AB, Comfil ApS (SME) and RISE.

Budget & time plan

The project’s total budget is 1 MSEK and the project runs during six months between November 2021 and May 2022.