Elasto-Plast

From conventional to smart thermoplastic elastomers

The Elasto-Plast project wants to familiarize companies with the rich possibilities offered by thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) to increase product properties or improve the processability of classic polymers. Moreover, during the Elasto-Plast project (1 October 2016 - 31 March 2021) new TPE types will be developed with extra functionalities such as shape memory, conductivity, increase of impact strength, deformability under pressure, etc.The applicability of TPE in innovative processing techniques (3D printing) as well as in high quality textile and plastics applications will be investigated.

The integrated, innovative cross-border approach of this project makes it possible to bring the knowledge developed in the INTERREG FWVL region to the companies so that they can fully valorize the opportunities.

Interreg is an important vehicle of the European Union to financially support cross-border cooperation projects. The European Territorial Cooperation Programme Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen stems from the desire to promote economic and social exchange between four border regions: Flanders and Wallonia in Belgium, Hauts-de-France and Grand-Est in France. 170 million euro from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was allocated to the programme supporting projects corresponding to the four themes of cooperation: research and innovation, SME competitiveness, protection and valorisation of the environment and social inclusion. The project portfolio is a new and innovative instrument which makes it possible to bring together various projects around a joint development objective in the service of the territory, businesses and employment.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), including shape memory polymers, belong to a polymer family offering many possibilities but demanding a high degree of competence to be converted in a good and rational way into an additive or as such.

The development of new thermoplastic elastomer types with novel and special characteristics is booming. The universities in the INTERREG FWVL region are playing a crucial role in this process.

Objectives:

to introduce companies in the rich possibilities of thermoplastic elastomers to increase the properties of products or to improve the processing of conventional polymers by acquiring knowledge in the relationship between morphology, process conditions and product properties of thermoplastic polymers.
to transfer the unique technology (functionalised elastomers, shape memory materials, 3D printed elastomers) that will be developed in the INTERREG FWVL region to the companies to enable them to fully valorise the opportunities.

The integrated, innovative cross-border approach is facilitated by the complementary competences of the different partners encompassing the full value chain from the development till the effective implementation of TPE's. The cross-border sensibilisation activities, dissemination of information, accompaniment and company support by the Elasto-Plast team will contribute to the transfer of the technology across the national borders.