No images? Click here We can look back on a successful year, with the celebration of the TPRC's 10th anniversary and the growth of our consortium to 22 partners. Last week we welcomed our partners to the 22nd Technical Advisory Board meeting. Read all about this inspiring meeting, the new publications on our research, the vacancies, training opportunities and more in this newsletter. TPRC has taken measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most of our staff will be working from home in the coming weeks, but we are available as usual by phone and online. Visits to our research center are discouraged. We hope you stay safe and healthy in the coming time and please stay tuned via our social channels and website www.tprc.nl Inspiring 22nd TAB meeting Last week we welcomed our partners to the 22nd Technical Advisory Board Spring Meeting. During this two-day international conference the leading experts from our member companies met to discuss the research program, focusing on the promising opportunities of advanced thermoplastic materials and processes. It was a successful meeting, with good use of online meeting tools so that those who were not able to travel could also participate.The experts from all over the world shared their knowledge to enhance the use of thermoplastic composites and to boost the industry. COMPeTE II project The TPRC has developed structural analysis capabilities for overmolded structures that take into account the strength of the interface between the injection molded and continuous fiber reinforced material domains. TPRC publication "Analysis of the Thermoplastic Composite Overmolding Process: Interface Strength"Remko Akkerman, Mark Bouwman, and Sebastiaan Wijskamp analyzed the overmolding process of thermoplastic composites. They studied the bond strength between the overmolded composite laminate and the injected polymer resin by means of process modeling and mechanical testing. In their paper both a single-step and a dual-step process were evaluated, which led to distinctly different process mechanisms and resulting material structure and mechanical performance of the parts. Read more about the publication. Advanced Forming of Thermoplastic Composites CourseAre you interested in learning more about the press-forming process for thermoplastic composites? We offer an advanced course, which is well-suited for engineers who are considering future application of thermoplastic composites and forming processes. The course is open to both TPRC members and non-members. Due to the coronavirus we have moved this course from April to September! We will communicate the exact data through our social media channels and website. Take a look at our website for more information and to sign up. We are hiring!The TPRC is expanding. In recent months we have welcomed a number of new colleagues. Thibault Hernandez, Emiel van de Wetering and Simon Veenstra are meanwhile strengthening our team as research engineers. Dennis Brands and Sebastiaan van den Berg joined the TPRC as PhD candidates, as well as Yannick Buser who has worked at the TPRC as a researcher before. Currently, the TPRC is seeking new team members who are looking for an exciting challenge in the field of thermoplastic composite materials. We have vacancies for a Business Development Manager, Researchers and PhD Candidates. If you are interested, visit our website or mail: careers [at] tprc.nl Future of Thermoplastic CompositesIn the first decade of the TPRC we managed, together with our partners, to increase the global awareness and support the use of thermoplastic composites. We are looking forward to continuing our mission, together with our partners, in facilitating the industry towards more lightweight, sustainable applications. Being a member of the TPRC will give you access to cutting-edge research, a state-of-the-art laboratory and the TPRC expert network with 30+ years of experience in researching and developing thermoplastic composite applications. Do you believe that unique and promising material characteristics of thermoplastic composites make it the material for the future? And is your organization interested in joining our consortium? Please feel free to contact us. |