Cost effective composites for ultra high esthetical requirements.

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 13712.1;3 PFFLE-IW

Short description (English)

Cost effective composites for ultra high esthetical requirements.

Short description (French)

Cost effective composites for ultra high esthetical requirements.

Abstract (French)

The objective is to develop a polymer composite material system for cost-effective manufacture of tubular components with exceptional optical rendering. Applications include writing instruments, watch products and medical accessories. Fiber weave architectures will be combined with optical grade coatings using a single-step bladder inflation molding (BIM) process, as a low cost alternative to conventional multi-steps casting/machining operations. Attention will be paid to optimize the BIM process, to the optical and esthetical performance of the composite material and to the hardness and adhesion of the coating to the composite core.