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Research & Development Request

ERA-NET Cofund - MarTERA: Innovative composite material for resistant products/constructions in salt water and saline fog environments - partners sought for the project coordination, field tests, certification, proposition of areas of application

Country of Origin: Latvia
Reference Number: RDLV20190217001
Publication Date: 17 February 2019

Summary

The university research institute from Latvia has developed a composite material based on recycled thermoplastic polymer (as a binder) and inert filler. The project will aim to demonstrate that the material is suitable for use in saline environments. The project proposal is planned to be submitted to the ERA-NET Cofund MarTERA Call 2019. Partners are sought for coordination of the project, field tests, certification of the material, and proposition of areas of application.

Description

The sea water is aggressive media causing degradation of many materials (e.g. concrete) which are for a longer time in contact with saline environment. Accordingly materials stable in harsh media are of interest.
The university research institute from Latvia in collaboration with private company has developed a composite material based on recycled thermoplastic polymer (as a binder) and inert filler. The material is field tested and applied in non-water (land) environment. By several parameters it has better properties than the classical concrete. The composite material developed does not absorb water, it retains its mechanical properties over a wide temperature range, and it is resistant to +/- temperatures. Thus, it can be assumed that the material is resistant to salt mist and salty sea water, so this material may be suitable for use in offshore constructions. During the project, the change of material properties due to long-term exposure to salt-containing environment will be experimentally tested and the usefulness for production of building elements from this material will be evaluated. In case of success the material will be certified for marine and offshore use.
The developed technology ensures simultaneous production of the material and building elements. At the moment the collaborating company offer the following product groups:
- massive polymer concrete products (plates), weight more than 100 kg. Method of production - hot pressing;
- large-size, complex-shape polymer concrete products (pipes, gutters). Method of production - 3D printing;
- polymer and glass fibre-reinforced high strength composite products (barriers, curbs). Method of manufacturing - hot rolling.
For implementation of the project, a project coordinator is sought. The coordinator will have duties of administrative/general management of the project, but partners - to carry out material testing in seawater and saline fog environments. The coordinator of course could do also other tasks. Also a hydro-building specialized construction company is sought that could analyse the need of application of the material as well as suggest specific products for production. Deadline for submission of pre-proposals: 29th March 2019. Deadline for the EoI - 15.03.2019. Project duration – 3 years.

Advantages and Innovations

Building elements based on thermosetting polymers are known, but the composite material designed on the basis of waste thermoplastic polymers is significantly cheaper retaining similar properties.

Stage Of Development

Concept stage

Requested partner

The type of partner sought: any type of partner eligible to participate in ERA-NET Cofund MarTERA Call 2019 (from countries -Belarus, Belgium-Flanders, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Turkey).

The tasks to be performed by the partner sought: depending on the partner’s profile - coordination of the project, field tests, certification of the material, proposition of products for manufacturing / areas of application, eventually – production of test series.

Cooperation offer is closed for requests