| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/M020851/1 |
| Title: |
iNdICATE- a Novel Instrument for CharacterisATion of PrEforms and Bottles for Injection Stretch Blow Moulding |
| Principal Investigator: |
Menary, Professor G |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Queen's University of Belfast |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research |
| Starts: |
01 October 2015 |
Ends: |
30 September 2018 |
Value (£): |
748,791
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Manufacturing Machine & Plant |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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21 Jan 2015
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Manufacturing Inst. FULLS
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This project will develop ground-breaking instrument technology enabling manufacturers of plastic bottles the capability of applying a scientific approach to material development, process and product design; thereby becoming more efficient in terms of material and energy usage. The most common process for manufacturing plastic bottles is Injection Stretch Blow Moulding (ISBM), which is primarily used to manufacture Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles for the carbonated soft drink (CSD) and water industries, a global market estimated to grow to £57 billion by 2017. Due to environmental concerns and the volatility of resin cost, there is a continual drive to lightweight these containers. However in order to do this manufacturers lack scientific instrumentation that can provide quantifiable data on the manufacturability of preforms and on the subsequent mechanical properties of the bottles they manufacture. This research program will address this issue by developing a novel instrument that will integrate technology in modelling, instrumentation and image analysis that will form the basis for a new approach for the industry towards preform/bottle design, material analysis and quality control. The technology will lead to downstream impacts through innovative manufacturing, including more efficient, customised machines for injecting preforms and blowing bottles for a range of new materials. With better understanding of the impact of processing conditions on preform manufacturability and bottle performance it can be expected that lightweight containers can be developed in shorter times. This will bring environmental and societal impact through reduced material, energy and transport and economic impact through businesses producing cheaper containers and through sales of a new instrument.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.qub.ac.uk |