Mecacontrol Holding Desarrollo, Plásticos Alser and the Lurederra Technology Centre are working on the CIRCLAYPLAS project with the aim of developing a new family of recycled polypropylene that also incorporates mineral nanoparticles (nanoclays) for the manufacture of components for the automotive sector and which will allow lighter parts and elements to be obtained.
Polypropylene is a material with a large presence in vehicles, being present in bumpers, lids, wings, supports, etc. and accounting for 17% of their total weight. The lightening of its components is particularly necessary in order to promote the transition towards the electrification of vehicle motorisation. The additive present in a large number of polypropylene formulations is talc, as it improves their mechanical resistance and facilitates the moulding processes, accounting for up to 20% of the total composition. Replacing part of this talc with nanostructured additives of lower density, such as nanoclays, will lighten the final material, and thus the manufactured elements, without losing properties.
In short, this research will open up a new avenue of work for obtaining new products from recycled raw materials, with the same mechanical characteristics as their predecessors, but with improved lightweight properties. In addition, it will set a precedent in the introduction of the circular economy in the automotive industry thanks to the use of recycled material and the eco-design of all its elements. In fact, these parts will be redesigned to enable their reuse and recovery at the end of their useful life, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.
This research has been funded by the Government of Navarra in the 2023-2026 call for strategic R&D projects, with file number 0011-1411-2023-000034.
