Lighter through surface protection - LightSURF

Purpose and goal

LightSURF aims to support a broader use of composites in demanding environments. The project has studied coating systems, surface treatments and characterization for optimized surface protection in an interdisciplinary approach. A valuable knowledge base was created for the partners and the findings are disseminated outside the consortium through courses. Specific industrial challenges were addressed proving the feasibility to use composites in demanding environments and leading the way in the adaption of composites in applications where fire safety is a concern.

Expected results and effects

The involved industrial partners could acquire a broad knowledge in the field of surface protection of composites, that will allow them to develop new innovative lightweight solutions for a broader range of applications and lead the way in the adoption of composites in demanding environments. The involvement of suppliers and end-users from different industries (aerospace, marine, construction and infrastructure) enables penetration of various branches. Also companies outside the consortium will benefit through the courses offered by RISE based on the projects findings.

Planned approach and implementation

The project was implemented in two stages, where the first stage focused on collaboration and formation of general knowledge that is valuable and transferable for different industries. The second stage focused on branch-specific evaluation of different solutions for industrial case studies to provide evidence for the feasibility of composites in applications with high demands regarding fire safety. This approach enabled effective collaboration across different branches to build knowledge on common issues, as well as focused work on the individual industrial challenges.