InnoVatIve processing Technologies for bio-based foAmed thermopLastics

VITAL旨在产生基础知识和专业知识，为欧洲未来用生物来源的合成热塑性塑料替代现有热塑性塑料的活动奠定基础，并通过这样做，使欧洲聚合物加工部门能够实现向更清洁、更气候中立的工业价值链的生物替代品的范式转变。这将通过开发热塑性塑料发泡工艺，结合智能数字控制方法，使生物基热塑性塑料能够在传统加工设备上加工(用于泡沫塑料注射成型和珠子发泡)，以及开发一种全球独特的发泡热塑性塑料3D打印方法来实现。这些加工技术代表了三条“价值链”。此外，以生物为基础的热塑性机械回收的发展将为工程应用的进步奠定基础，使其朝着“通过设计实现圆形”的方向发展。所产生的知识将通过各种渠道广泛传播，包括一个学习工厂，该工厂旨在为三条价值链中的每一条提供中试规模的工业线，以降低行业采用这些技术的风险。VITAL汇集了一个由工业处理器和设备制造商组成的世界领先的财团，以及来自汽车、电子和海洋行业的最终用户合作伙伴，以及来自欧洲各地的领先研究和技术组织。这6个使用案例结合起来至关重要，以解决预期结果，并创造了通过转换为生物基材料，每年从化石材料中减少约75,000吨二氧化碳当量的途径。该财团与咨询委员会将提供乘数效应，以进一步扩大这些影响的应用和使用。VITAL的颠覆性方法将通过优化加工和材料使用来解决生物材料的成本挑战，从而帮助工业采用。

VITAL aims to generate fundamental knowledge and expertise that will underpin future European activities to substitute existing synthetic thermoplastics with those from bio-based sources and in so doing, enable the European the polymer processing sector to achieve a paradigm shift towards bio-based alternatives for cleaner, more climate neutral industrial value chains. This will be achieved through the development of thermoplastic foaming processes, combined with smart digital control approaches, that will enable bio-based thermoplastics to be processed both on traditional processing equipment (for foam injection moulding and bead foaming) as well as developing a globally unique 3D printing approach for foamed thermoplastics. These processing technologies represent three 'value chains'. In addition, bio-based thermoplastic mechanical recycling developments will underpin progression of engineering applications towards a 'Circularity by Design' approach. The knowledge produced will be widely disseminated through various conduits, including a Learning Factory that aims to give access to pilot scale industrial lines for each of the 3 value chains in order to reduce the risk for industry for adoption of the technologies. VITAL brings together a world-leading consortium consisting of industrial processors and equipment manufacturers along with end-user partners from the automotive, electronics and marine sectors and leading research and technologies organisationsfrom across Europe. The 6 use casesin VITAL combine to addressthe expected outcomes, and create pathways to mitigate ~75,000 tonnes CO2 eq/year from fossil-based materials through a conversion to bio-based materials. The consortium along with the Advisory board will provide a multiplier effect to broaden these impacts with further applications and uses. VITAL's disruptive approaches will help industrial adoption by addressing the cost-challenges of bio-based materials by optimising processing and material use.