FuturePlas will use high performance, commodity polymers to develop self-reinforced plastics with significantly enhanced properties and, for the first time, flowing self-reinforced plastic intermediates which will enable the production of high performance, lightweight complex components by injection moulding and compression moulding. The technology will be demonstrated by manufacturing and testing 3 case study components.

The objectives of the FuturePlas project are to:

•          Reduce the amount of plastic used to make a component by 30%

•          Reduce component weight by 30%

•          Improve the recyclability of reinforced plastics

•          Improve the design flexibility of self-reinforced plastics

The project, which started in November 2006 and will take 30 months to complete, involves 8 UK partners representing the entire supply chain and has a total value of £700,000.