Belgian chemical group Solvay (Brussels; www.solvay.com) announced the launch of a joint research lab dedicated to the development of thermoplastic composite materials and production processes for the aerospace industry. The lab was created in collaboration with Leonardo (Rome / Italy; www.leonardocompany.com), a global high-tech player in aerospace, defense and security. The bulk of the research activities will be carried out at the Italian company’s domestic Grottaglie plant in Taranto and at Solvay’s Material Science and Application Center (MSAC) in Brussels.

With the joint research venture, the companies seek a broader adoption of thermoplastic composites, mainly for primary structures in aerospace. This requires the development of new materials and production processes to reach the required performance and manufacturing efficiency, said Nicolas Cudré-Mauroux, chief technology and innovation officer at Solvay.

The lab will focus on thermoplastic engineered materials and, in particular, welding and automatic lamination of complex and large aerospace structures, with the goal of maximising properties. Benefits include lightweighting of parts for fuel efficiency and eliminating an autoclave step for parts consolidation, which in turn enables sustainable production.