The aim of HERFUSE proposal is to design innovative fuselage and empennages suitable for the future Hybrid-Electric Regional aircraft (HER) that will contribute to the overall target to reduce Green House Gases (GHG) emissions. HERFUSE will study the challenges on fuselage and empennages layout, material, components, manufacturing and assembly derived by integration of the relevant fuselage systems for HER as defined in the SRIA for a Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft and in HER-01 topic. HERFUSE integrates features and components necessary to regional hybrid-electric propulsion and complementary systems as well as improves weight, durability, aerodynamic efficiency and operational issues. The technologies and solutions matured in this project shall be aligned and feed with models, analyses and actual test data HERA project on regional aircraft (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2022-01-TRA-01). HERFUSE technologies, manufacturing and assembly of critical components will make feasible achieving the targeted performance gains of HER enablers such as low GHG energy sources (batteries and fuel cells), their storage (probable liquid in hydrogen case), their distribution and management, operational and safety features, thermal management provisions, electrical and thermal insulation. Technical solutions set by the HERFUSE will contribute then to the overall target and studies performed at aircraft level in HERA to reduce emissions. Namely, HERFUSE integration requirements will be concurrent and complementary to the aircraft-level ones set into HERA.

VIBES project presents an innovative solution to resolve the end-of-life issues of thermoset composites based on the development of a new green technology focused on the controlled separation and recovery of composite material components by means of developing customised biobased bonding materials (BBM). BBM are biobased chemical moieties that will decompose under specific external stimuli (temperature, UV or electrical pulse) allowing the separation between the matrix and the reinforcing material, and facilitating the dissociation of the polymer chains of the resins to favour their efficient processing and recycling through a green washing bath, recovering the monomers/oligomers and fibres for their upcycling into new products. VIBES will study and combine three different chemical approaches to obtain BBM: vitrimers, Diels-Alder, and supramolecular architectures. VIBES project will directly contribute to achieve SIRA’s objectives in KPI1, KPI2, KPI5 and KPI8 and to demonstrate the solution decreasing the amount of non-biodegradable polymers sent to disposal or discharged to the environment by at least 40%. VIBES consortium involves 13 partners (industrially driven): 4 RTD (AITIIP, LEITAT, ULIM and DITF), 7 SME (SP, BCIRC, F&D, ARCHA, Q-PLAN, IDEC and JUNO), 1 Large Companies (ACC), and 1 OTHER (PLATA) accounting to 3 BIC associated (AITIIP, LEITAT, and ULIM). The proposed 48-months will comprise a total estimated budget of 5,299,800 €; being the 20.3% covered by consortium own contribution (in-kinds) and adding 524,311€ in additional investments during the project implementation and 9,385,000€ envisaged to upgrade TRL after the end of the project. Benefits will be significant in terms of companies growth (23.2%), increasing jobs (37 direct, 1800 indirect) and turnover (124M€) by promoting at least 2 new sector interconnections in the new created “Intrinsic Recyclable Thermoset Composites Value Chain”

With strong growly rates of 13% in the aero sector, and demands predicted to be doubled by 2032, carbon composites (CC) are under the spotlight. CC production requires a quick ramp-up that needs to be based on robust materials & processes and a solid manufacturing supply chain, where higher production rates and cost reduction are essential. The aim of AIRPOXY is to reduce production & MRO costs of CC parts in aeronautics by introducing a new family of enhanced composites that preserve all the advantages of conventional thermosets, while showing new unprecedented features such as Re-processability, Reparability and Recyclability. This will be possible through further development & validation of a family of ground-breaking thermoset resins (recently invented/patented by CID) including dynamic bonds which enable such smart behaviour. Conversion of the technology from TRL3 to 5 will be achieved in AIRPOXY, through 2 representative demonstrators of aircraft panels. Thermoforming processes previously unthinkable for thermosets will reduce manufacturing cost of CC parts by35% vs autoclave, reducing processing times from hours to minutes. Faster/cheaper repair technologies, in combination with SHM, will reduce significantly MRO costs. Additionally, a novel welding process will reduce CC bonding costs by up to 50%. Such new features will foster competitiveness & sustainability in the European aeronautics sector. AIRPOXY relies on a multidisciplinary consortium of 11 partners from 6 countries; CID as resin inventor, key technology providers IVW (thermoforming & welding), EUT(RTM), COEX(SQRTM), UOI(SHM); AEF (process simulation software), aircraft components manufacturers (EIRE, IDEC, SON), standardization experts (UNE) & an aeroconsultancy (ART). They will be supported by a strong advisory board (AIRBUS, Leonardo, Huntsman, SGL and EREA). Maximum impact of AIRPOXY will be ensured through well-balanced dissemination, communication and exploitation activities.