Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R79111/01
Title:	SusCompNet - the Sustainable Composites Network
Principal Investigator:	Tucker, Dr N
Other Investigators:	Smith, Professor G
Researcher Co-Investigators:	Dr M Hughes
Project Partners:	Biomass Engineering Concargo Composites
Department:	Sch of Engineering
Organisation:	University of Warwick
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 April 2002	Ends:	31 March 2005	Value (£):	31,159
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Manufact. Enterprise Ops& Mgmt Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing Construction Environment
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
A sustainable composites network will be formed to demonstrate the ability, and to develop the generic science and technology to manufacture structural polymer matrix composites having low environmental impact. The need to develop materials having a less adverse environmental impact is clear. Polymers derived from sustainable resources , coupled with high strength natural fibres such as flax or hemp offer excellent potential as raw materials for low environmental impact composites. However there is a lack of synergy in emerging strands of agronomic, materials science and manufacturing research coupled with a certain lack of the necessary industrial focusThrough a range of acivities, the network will draw together the knowledge base of universities and industry to enable effective exploitation of this knowledge by industry and establish a focus to identify clearly articulate industry's broad and specific requirements in the exploitation of sustainable composites. It will bring together leading academic groups approaching the issue from the necessary wide range of perspectives, providing a highly effective forum acting as an interface between the research community and industry. The network will promote knowledge sharing and collaborative activity. It will encourage industry to gain competitive advantage by rapid adoption of new materials.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.warwick.ac.uk