The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) is involved with more new materials research.
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, with UDRI, JobsOhio, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the U.S. Department of Energy and others announced a project Friday focused on the optimization of vinyl ester resins and fiber sizings for the fabrication of carbon-fiber composites.
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The idea is to identity materials with longer room temperature shelf life, shorter cycle times and reduced costs, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation said in a release.
“Advancements in these areas will increase productivity, decrease scrap and material costs, and enable adoption into the automotive industry,” the institute said.
It’s expected that researchers at UDRI and elsewhere will identify cost-effective new combinations of materials.
The project will develop material combinations that have room temperature storage capability of at least three months and cure times less than three minutes.
“We have assembled a project team that brings together the resin expertise, sizing expertise, and fiber expertise needed to develop an optimized system,” Joe Fox, Ashland director of emerging & external technologies, said in the release. “We will be leveraging the resources and talent at UDRI and (Michigan State University).”
Success could speed the adoption of carbon fiber and vinyl ester composites into automotive uses by producing a more cost-effective technology with lower costs and other benefits.
With 515 employees, research at UDRI totaled about $117 million in fiscal year 2016, an increase of nearly 20 percent over 2015’s mark, the university has said.