CT participates in the RETPAIR project, which started in February with the aim of developing new automated and robotic, high-performance, flexible and cost-effective technologies to rework and repair TPC parts during the manufacturing phase
CT, a leading engineering company in technological innovation throughout the entire product life cycle, begins the research and development of a flexible and cost-effective repair technology for those thermoplastic composite components, which will culminate with its integration into the line of manufacturing in the aeronautical industry.
Framed in the Horizon 2020 Program, RETPAIR, which stands for “Thermoplastic airframe repair process integrated in the manufacturing line”, has 800 thousand euros of funding for research from the European Clean Sky program. To carry out this R + D + i initiative, a multidisciplinary consortium made up of CT, Msquare and AIMEN, as a leader, has been created.
The proposed solutions ensure unilateral accessibility and are supported by a digital design methodology. An induction welding solution will be developed for structural damage repair based on precast patches, and two on-site consolidation solutions for structural and non-structural applications based on automated and robotic layer-by-layer patch deposition: a technology-based solution. ATL / AFP for structural and large-size repairs, as well as a 3D printing solution based on FFF, which uses both continuous carbon fiber and short fiber filaments, allowing to develop repairs with different mechanical requirements.
To ensure the quality of the repair, the critical parameters (temperature, pressure, times / frequency) of the process will be monitored and controlled. CT engineers will be in charge of evaluating and comparing the results of these new repair technologies in terms of their applicability in the different previously defined damage scenarios and in the different environments in the manufacturing line. Once its applicability has been determined, CT will define the roadmap gathering the necessary work to scale the new technologies from TRL3 to TRL6.
RETPAIR developments will result in flexible and precise repair technologies for high performance and quality solutions, thus contributing to the increasing use of TPC in the aeronautical industry.
About RETPAIR
Framed within the Horizon 2020 Program, RETPAIR (Thermoplastic airframe repair process integrated in the manufacturing line) has total funding for research of 800 thousand euros from the Clean Sky Program. Its consortium is formed by CT and Msquare, and led by AIMEN.
