PRONET: Production Resource Optimisation of SiC fibre for Net Zero Efficiency Targets

TISICS has unique high performance metal matrix composite technology to combine its in-house UK silicon carbide fibre reinforcement in light weight titanium and aluminium composites. These technologies deliver 30% to 70% weight reductions in metallic systems for space, aerospace, transport and energy sectors. Weight reduction in these sectors leads to direct reductions in CO2 emissions delivering into global Net Zero targets.

TISICS has recently demonstrated a 50% lighter landing gear component which is stronger than steel, can directly replace the steel part without system redesign and would repay its replacement cost in under 2 years of flight through fuel savings alone. CO2 emission costs in the future would create further cost benefits for airlines.

PRONET will enable TISICS to work with industry experts including the Centre for Process Innovation and a major UK chemical producer to establish significantly higher resource efficiency for high value feedstocks than is currently possible at TISICS. Improving resource efficiency has two benefits. Firstly it reduces raw material costs as a proportion for silicon carbide fibre costs as both the feed and waste have a cost impact. Secondly it reduces energy consumption from raw material supply through product manufacture to plant waste disposal. This supports TISICS mission towards Net Zero throughout its business activity.

The market potential for MMCs is growing rapidly with the initiatives to reduce carbon emissions across all sectors. Aviation is hard to abate but weight reduction is a near term opportunity for existing aircraft ahead of future sustainable fuels, hydrogen and advanced aircraft designs. Weight reduction solutions must be both economic and available at high volumes required across the aviation sector. PRONET will develop resource efficient process options for current production as well as robust methodologies needed to design a future very high volume fibre plant based in the UK to feed UK and international product sales.

This demonstration of scalability is a key element in industrialising UK technology and securing world leadership in light weighting Aviation and hence delivering Into The UK's NetZero promises.

Customer support for this programme has been very significant in preparing the ambitious scope for both near term and longer term resource efficiency benefits needed to meet the economic and technical challenges of introducing MMCs into products initially in aviation but expanding to space, energy and future ultra lightweight cars to maximise electric power economics.