EUREKA PROJECT > 4548 DE_AMATECH
- SUMMARY
- OUTLINE
- PARTICIPANTS
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F.Y.R. OF MACEDONIA
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SLOVENIA
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F.Y.R. OF MACEDONIA
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F.Y.R. OF MACEDONIA
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F.Y.R. OF MACEDONIA
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SLOVENIADevelopment of new actuators, materials and technology for the production of advanced pneumatic and hydraulic valves
To develop advanced pneumatic and hydraulic piston valves with much better dynamic properties and low energy consumption based on piezo actuator technology and pistons made of composite materials and hard coatings, for production in the FESTO plant.
Status > ANNOUNCED - 29-Jun-2009 Technological Area Market Area Start Date > 01-Jan-2009 Duration > 36 Months Participating countries > SLOVENIA, FYROM | Main contactUniversity of Ljubljana / Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Prof. Niko Herakovic > Docent Organisation type > University |
Project Description
The main purpose of the proposed project is to develop new actuators and new materials, as well as technology, for the production of light pistons for pneumatic and hydraulic piston valves (PHPV) in the company FESTO with much better dynamic properties and lower energy consumption. The present production of PHPV in this particular plant is based on the commonly used electromagnetic actuators and materials for valve pistons like aluminium and steel, which are known for their relatively very high density and therefore influence negatively the dynamic properties of the valve, especially the response time. The project will concentrate on the development of advanced actuators, new materials and new technology for the production of control pistons, which will shorten the switch-over and response time of the valve decisively, because of their lower mass. The impact of new pistons made of composite materials combined with special thin coatings as well as the impact of new actuators will be investigated in the project. The most common actuators in industrial applications of PHPV are electromagnetic actuators because they are robust, have relatively economic prices and are therefore very much acceptable for use in industrial practice. Electromagnetic actuators are questionable when parameters such as shorter switchover and response time of the valve, smaller dimensions and lower power consumption are considered. The switchover times are shorter, the lower the masses of the moving parts are like piston and coil. In optimal, advanced piezo-actuator design solutions, the switchover time moves in the range of 500 microseconds, while for standard electromagnetic valve designs the switchover time ranges between 10 to 20 ms. Within the proposed project we intend to combine two distinct new materials and technologies for the production of the valve pistons: composite materials and appropriate thin coatings for the applied composites. The first challenge of the project will be to find an appropriate composite material for the pneumatic and hydraulic valve piston considering all working conditions and static as well as dynamic parameters of the pneumatic and especially hydraulic valve operation. The second and one of the most important challenges of the project will be the development of an appropriate thin coating for the selected composite material and especially the development of new technology to pile up the coating to the composite material in such a way as to assure its stable and long-term operation without major wear and peeling of the coating during the life-cycle of the valve. The coating applied to the composite material will also have to assure the demanding hardness and self-lubrication of the whole piston surface at the same time. The third and also very important challenge of the project will be the development of an advanced piezo actuator for the actuation of the valve piston. Piezo technology is relatively well known at the academic level but the use of piezo technology for the actuation of valves is less known and especially rare in the industrial applications. A few known industrial applications of piezo valves are concentrated in the actuation of small and mini pneumatic valves, but there is no industrial application known so far in large pneumatic and hydraulic valves. The project will therefore concentrate on the development of piezo based actuators for large PHPV valves with better dynamic properties and lower energy consumption than electromagnetic valves have. Several different prototypes of piezo actuators with different principles of piezo element operations (stack, binding elements cross-bow elements, etc.) will be developed, produced end tested separately for pneumatic and hydraulic valve actuation. Different yet inter-connected techniques and tools will be applied in the proposed project to achieve the project aims: computer simulation packages like DSHplus and finite element methods (FEM) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), etc. to analyse the behaviour of actuators, different materials and coatings and to determine dynamic behaviour of electromagnetic and piezo actuators and different combinations of the materials for pistons and pneumatic as well as hydraulic valves in general. All of the simulation techniques will be supported by an extensive set of measurements and be experimentally verified using data from a real production and operation of pistons and valves. Several different prototypes of the pneumatic and hydraulic valve will be developed and produced. It is very important to mention that the impact of the proposed project results will be very broad and expandable also to numerous other technical fields. The experiences gained with the developed new composite and coating materials and technology for piling up the coating to the composite material will be applicable in many technical commercial fields and therefore profitable for some partners from the proposed project.
Technological Development Envisaged
The most common actuators in industrial applications for the actuation of pneumatic and hydraulic valves are electromagnetic actuators with well known and widely established production technology. Electromagnetic actuators are questionable, when parameters such as shorter switchover and response time of the valve and lower power consumption are considered. There have been some improvements in the technology of the production of electromagnetic actuators in the last two decades, which use up to 40 % less energy than conventional electromagnets and perform better dynamic properties. But lately there has not been much development in this field, because it has reached its maximum possible innovative level using the same, traditional technology. The production technology for pistons made of steel and aluminium is traditional and similar as for other products made of these materials. In the past two decades, some improvements have been made only with the designing of the hydraulic piston in order to reduce axial flow forces and herewith to enable the actuation of the piston using an electromagnetic actuator of the same power as for the non-compensating valves, yet enabling less energy consumption and better dynamic properties for higher valve output power.
Main contactCenter for Plasma technologies - Plasma Dr. Ilija Nasov > Director Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
The organisation is an R&D SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise). PLASMA has contemporary and fully ecological, vacuum-plasma equipment and technologies: - Ion Pulsing Nitriding, Carbo-nitriding; - PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) vacuum chamber for hard coatings equipped with two big DC (Direct Current) magnetron sputtering and one big arc cathode evaporator (Ti, TiN, TiO, TiC, Ti(CN), TiO2, TiAlN, TiNxOy, Al, AlO, Al2O3, etc.). The coatings can be decorative, functional or industrial on different types of substrate (metals, ceramics, glass or plastics). - Electroplating of ecological galvanic coatings on different substrates (Al, Cu, brass, Mg, plastics, glass, ceramics, etc). PLASMA - Centre for Plasma Technologies is focused on plating of different types of substrates for technical and performance-oriented applications. Our plating finishes include gold, silver, nickel, copper, chrome. Furthermore, PLASMA LTD. offers several properties of binary alloy finishes which provide enhanced performance and cost savings over traditional pure, single metal finishes. PLASMA will contribute to the project by developing an appropriate thin nano-structured coating for the selected composite material and especially by developing new technology to pile up the coating to the composite material and to improve the adhesion between the composite material and the thin coating, in a way that assures its stability and long-term operation without major wear and peeling of the coating during the life-cycle of the valve. The coating applied to the composite material will also assure the demanding hardness and self-lubrication of the whole piston surface at the same time. For that purpose, the technological contribution of the PLASMA will be development of a novel plasma based surface hardening technique on the surface of the selected composite material.
Expertise
During the last 4 years, PLASMA has developed many new plasma nitriding processes, PVD coatings, new ecological galvanic, chemical and electrochemical coatings and combinations of these technologies. Some of them are patented in the country and abroad: * Z. O. Vitalovich, I. Nasov, The way of forming PVD coatings on the surface of the constructive steel after plasma nitriding, 74749, MPK 2006, Ministry of Education and Science, Ukraine, 2006; * I. Nasov, Selective coatings on absorbers for solar collectors, P-2006/83, MK; * I. Nasov, Absorbers for solar collectors with selective coatings on the wings and on the tubes of the absorbers P-2007/153, MK. Recently, the company started to work with a combination of the above-mentioned procedures for industrial applications and producing new PVD and plasma nitriding chambers including a duplex process. Awards: * Silver Medal - Innovation: Electro resistant butt flash welding copper with aluminium conductors without added material, Makinova Fair, Skopje, 1990 * Grand Prix - Innovation: PVD, Plasma Nitriding and Oxinitriding, Macedonian Economic Chamber, Technoma-Makinova, Skopje, 2005 * Winner in Western Balkans Development Marketplace - Project Title: New compact absorber for solar collectors with selective coatings, Organised by The World Bank, Belgrade, 2006 * Gold Medal - Nikola Tesla - Innovation: Plasma oxinitriding, Belgrade Association of Inventors and Technical Improvements, International Fair of Innovation, Belgrade, 2006 * 1st Place Diploma - Academy of Innovators of Serbia and API SCG, International Fair of Innovation, Belgrade, 2006 Key personnel * Ass. Prof. Dr Ilija Nasov (IN) - Director and co-owner of the Centre for Plasma Technologies ‘PLASMA’, Skopje, 2004-up to today * BSc - Bachelor Degree - University St’s Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Skopje, R. Macedonia, 1976 * MSc - Master of Science - University St’s Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Skopje, R. Macedonia, 1980 * PhD - Doctor of Technical Science - University St’s Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Skopje, R. Macedonia, 1998 * Ass. Prof. for Solar Energy Department, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University St’s Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, R. Macedonia, 2008 * IN has authored and co-authored more than 20 published scientific and conference papers. Prof. Dr. Jovan Mickovski finished his BSc and MSc studies in metallurgy at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, ‘Sts. Cyril and Methodius’ University in Skopje, R. Macedonia in 1967 and 1971 respectively and received his PhD entitled ‘Aluminothermischen Reaktionen vom SiO2 und ZrSiO4 zur Herstellung von oxynitriedischen Werkstoffen’ in 1978 at RWTH in Aachen, Germany. He has published more than 100 scientific publications, and participated in 12 scientific projects and in 12 projects in technological development. He is author and co-author of 8 books and textbooks as well as 4 innovations, for which he has been awarded three times at MAKINOVA (Macedonian innovation exhibition) and also a Grand Prix from the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce. Selected publications: 1. J.K. Mickovski, J. Magdeski, P. Sekulovski, ‘Strain hardening and state of plane stress during forging in plane stan of copper’, Metalurgija (Journal of Metallurgy), No1. Vol.3, Belgrade 1997. 2. J.K.Mickovski, N.Nacevski, B.Nikov, S.Milosevski, - Possibilities and perspectives for development of metallurgy in the Republic of Macedonia, Kovine, zlitine, tehnologije 31 (1977) 6. 3. S.A.Risteska and J.K.Mickovski: Effects of Mg concentration, test temperature and strain rate on segregation of AlMg3 and AlMg5 Alloys, Steel Grips, 2 (2004) Suppl. Metal Forming 2004. PLASMA has lately participated in several international innovative projects, establishing cooperation with the National Academy of Science from Ukraine, Institute for Super Hard Materials, Associated in the Diamond Concern ALKON.
Main contactFESTO d.o.o Ljubljana Mag. (M.Sc.) Stanislav Bercic > Didactic and Research Manager Organisation type > SME |
Contribution to project
The organisation is the main industrial partner in the project and has the support of the company FESTO, an experienced producer of pneumatic and hydraulic valves. The company will actively cooperate in several project tasks, like analysis and state-of-the-art and general design of a pneumatic (PV) and hydraulic (HV) valve for large fluid flow, where global market presence and many years of experience and industrial production of valves will be a great support and the basis of experience. Together with all partners, the company will cooperate in the experimental plan design for the preparation of measurement methods. Some experimental verifications of pneumatic and hydraulic valve operations, especially those which demand real conditions in industrial environments will be co-carried out with the company FESTO. Very valuable will also be the role of the company in the market research and selection of the appropriate piezo elements and in the design of an advanced piezo-based actuator for hydraulic and pneumatic valves as well as in pneumatic and hydraulic piston design, where many years of experience will be used. In the whole process of the development and design of a prototype of pneumatic and hydraulic valves and their prototypes, the company will play a very important role in order to assure a design which is in line with the FESTO design philosophy. In all phases of the production of pneumatic and hydraulic valve prototypes, the company will play an important role. Finally, the company will also cooperate in the final results evaluation and in reporting on the project.
Expertise
FESTO, whose partner is also our project partner FESTO LJUBLJANA, is a widely recognised partner in the field of research, development and production of high quality pneumatic and hydraulic valves and other equipment for the automation technology market and the world’s leading supplier with 12,800 employees around the world. The FESTO trademark, oriented to the global market for years, is known in all markets of the world. FESTO products are technically among the most advanced fluid power products in the world. High R&D potential of the parent company assures the highest technological level of products in the world as well as modern design. High investments (7.5 % of sales) are directed at further development and innovation of pneumatic and hydraulic components, especially in innovation of new products and mechatronic systems, new technology and solutions for industrial and process automation, energy efficiency, the reduction of air and electricity consumption, new materials, reduction of component mass, advanced actuators and mechatronic systems and enlargement of output power of the valves as well as their better dynamic properties. Most of the expertise of the company can be described with the words: research, development, innovation, production, education (FESTO is one of the world’s largest producers of didactic equipment for fluid power and automation). Employees of FESTO LJUBLJANA have years of experience in production and process development in the fluid power and automation field.
Main contactUniversity of Ljubljana / Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Prof. Niko Herakovic > Docent Organisation type > University |
Contribution to project
At the UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, as the main partner, several technological contributions are foreseen. Thorough analyses of the state-of-the-art will be done and a general design of a new pneumatic and hydraulic valve for large fluid flow with an advanced piezo based actuator and composite material based piston will be made. We intend to model both types of valves and concentrate on the detailed modelling and designing of piezo based actuators for pneumatic and hydraulic valves separately, because of the difference in the actuation force needed, which the piezo actuator must assure. In both cases the principle of indirect actuation will be applied, using different piezo elements, from stacks, binding elements to crossbow, etc. with the aim to find an optimal solution for a pneumatic and hydraulic application, separately. Therefore a special mechanical construction of an actuator will be developed separately for a pneumatic and hydraulic valve aimed at achieving a fast response of the valve and low energy consumption simultaneously. Particular attention will be therefore paid to optimisation of the fluid flow and the flow forces through the actuator and in the direction of the piezo element. In the case of hydraulic fluid, it will be necessary to assure the isolation of the piezo element with a special isolating material or with an appropriately designed mechanical construction of the actuator. In the development phase, different simulation tools like FEM (Finite Element Method), CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and DSHplus will be used for the previous optimisation of different piezo based actuator prototypes, which will be verified also through an experimental assessment, which will be carried out by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Special attention will be paid to the design of new valve pistons to get the optimal fluid flow with minimal pressure drops and compensated fluid flow forces. All this will be done in close cooperation with partners who will develop composite materials and technologies for valve pistons in order to avoid such a design of the piston, which will not be possible to produce with the new technology. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will also co-carry out the final design of the PHPV valve prototype, final experimental verification of PV and HV valve operation and determination of static and dynamic characteristics as well as result evaluation and reporting.
Expertise
In the Laboratory for Handling, Assembly and Pneumatics - LASIM, UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the research is mainly focused on automation, new material and valve development in pneumatic and hydraulic fields as well as in robotics and other complex mechatronic systems. A programme group, whose member is LASIM, has published in the past few years together 122 scientific papers in journals and conference proceedings of which 11 were published in journals with SCI (Scaleable Coherent Interface) impact factor cited 73 times in the period 2004-2008 in the database Web Of Science while in the database Scopus they were cited 117 times. For four years in the past decade, the head of LASIM was a member of the Institut fuer Fluidtechnische Antriebe und Steuerungen (IFAS) at the RWTH Aachen, GERMANY (Technical University of Aachen), which is the world’s leading institute for hydraulics and pneumatics, where he gained top research and technology-transfer-to-industry experiences (worked through projects, where he was a coordinator, for different companies in development of new hydraulic, pneumatic and mechatronic components and devices - Moog, Bosch, Denison, Dorninger Industriehydraulik). His research work was focused on the development and optimization of advanced fluid power valves, materials and technology. One of his main achievements was the development of a new piezo-actuated direct controlled hydraulic servo valve, which was classified by academic and industrial experts inside the branch around the world as pioneer work and a milestone in the development of hydraulic valves. Also other members of the laboratory have many years, some of them decades, of experience in the development of pneumatic and hydraulic components and systems and have carried out many industrial projects for Slovenian companies in the past. One of the laboratory members was for many years a design and research engineer in the industry and has worked for some years also for a Slovenian company, a producer of fluid power valves and equipment. In the field of electronic and measurement devices, the Laboratory also has very good cooperation with external experts, who work for the laboratory as advisers, if necessary. Currently LASIM is the partner in some smaller industrial projects with the Slovenian industry in the field of hydraulics, machine and process automation and is also a member of the program group. For numerical simulation of mechanical constructions and pneumatic as well as hydraulic valves, systems and production processes, the researchers of the laboratory use modelling and simulation software packages like ProEngineer, DSHplus, Automation Studio, Robot Studio, M-Plant, etc. For verification of numerically predicted results, an experimental approach is used. All the experiments and analysis are carried out in the LabView environment. For experimental work the laboratory possesses the major equipment required.
Main contactFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy
Univeristy Ss Cyril and Methodius Prof. Gordana Bogoeva-Gaceva > Full Professor Organisation type > University |
Contribution to project
The FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY AND METALLURGY (TMF) will cooperate in several tasks of the project. First, TMF will contribute in the selection, analysis and characterisation of raw materials (fibres and polymer system) used for the production of composite material (task 4). Wettability of the reinforcing fibres with liquid resin is among the significant factors affecting adhesion phenomena and thus the basic inter-phase sensitive properties in composite materials. Different surface treatments applied for glass, carbon and other reinforcing fibres can drastically change the wettability and compatibility of the fibre surface with the matrix polymer. As a consequence, the chemical structure of the network influenced by the reactions taking place during the curing process in polymer matrix as well as in the fibre/matrix interface might be changed. In turn, overall mechanical properties including the interfacial shear strength are influenced and can be tailored by the selection of a proper compatibilised fibre/polymer system. Second, after the selection of the raw materials, we intend to analyse the curing process of the matrix polymer using FTIR spectrometry and FTIR microscopy measurements (the last one, together with PMF) and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) method, using model composites in order to pre-determine the optimal process conditions for achieving good mechanical properties of the composite. TMF will also contribute in characterisation of the composite material samples, produced in EUROKOMPOZIT by performing TGA/DTA (Thermogravimetric Analysis/ analysis/DTA) in preparation of measurement methods (task 7); finding the right coupling of the composite and coating material, in cooperation with PLASMA, PMF and EUROKOMPOZIT (task 8 and 9) and in modelling and simulation of piling up technology conditions.
Expertise
The FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY AND METALLURGY (TMF), University Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, is an educational and research institution, covering the educational process and scientific research work in the field of technology and materials science and engineering. TMF consists of 6 departments, with over 100 employees and 20 post-graduate students (each year). Within TMF, the Department of Polymer Engineering (PED) has 8 professors and several researchers, currently involved in more than twenty R&D projects on subjects that range from tailoring of polymer interfaces to plastic materials, synthesis of new polymers and compatibilisers, development of new composite materials, recycling and re-use of polymer-plastic wastes, polymer blends, rheology of polymers and polymer coatings for different application. In the past ten years, TMF and PED have established cooperation with industrial partners and new SMEs in MACEDONIA, as well as with knowledge institutions from EU countries and the U.S.A. The laboratories of PED are equipped, among others, with an XR-diffraction (X-Ray) unit (wide angle), DSC-7, TGA/DTA, DMTA (Dynamic Mechanical and Thermal Analysis), polarising optical microscope with hot-stage, ellipsometer, HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) and inverse gas chromatography device, and other instruments. Key personnel * Gordana Bogoeva-Gaceva (GBG) is employed as a full time professor at PED, and is also currently holding the position of President of the Macromolecular Division of the Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia and a member of COST Management Committee for COST MPNS Domain (Materials, Physical and Nano-sciences). GBG is teaching courses on Technology of Synthetic Polymers, Fibre Forming Processes, Technical and High Performance Fibres, Polymer Composite Materials and Polymer Characterisation Methods. GBG has been doing research in the areas of polymer composite materials, thermal characterisation of polymeric materials, polymer synthesis and modification, surface modification of polymers and fibres for more than twenty years. GBG has authored and co-authored more than 230 published papers (70 in impact factor- journals), 130 conference papers, 4 patents and 6 technical innovations (two of which were awarded the golden and silver medal of R. MACEDONIA). The latest research projects were oriented towards development of environmentally friendly technologies for production of thermoplastic-based composites, including newly developed textile performances based on synthetic/technical or natural fibres. GBG was the WB-coordinator of the ECO-PCCM project (FP6-INCO-CT-2004-509185), and project-leader/principal investigator of over 30 scientific projects and programs for industrial partners, including 4 bilateral projects with IPF, Dresden (GERMANY). Selected papers: 1. GBG, E. Maeder, L. Haussler, A. Dekanski, Characterisation of the surface and interphase of plasma-treated HM carbon fibres, Composites A 28 (1997) 445-452; 2. A. Janevski, GBG, E. Maeder, DSC analysis of crystallisation and melting behaviour of polypropylene in model composites with glass and PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) fibres, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 74 (1999) 239-246; 3. GBG, B. Mangovska, E. Maeder, Crystallisation kinetics of maleic anhydride-modified iPP studied by POM, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 77 (2000) 3107-3118; 4. GBG, H. Queck, E. Maeder, Properties of glass fibre polypropylene composites produced from split-warpknit textile performs, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials 13 (2000) 363-377; 5. GBG, A. Janevski, E. Maeder, Characterisation of a maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene as an adhesion promoter for glass fibre composites, Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology14 (3) (2000) 363-380; 6. GBG, A. Janevski, E. Maeder, Nucleation activity of glass fibres towards iPP evaluated by DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) and polarising light microscopy, Polymer 42 (2001) 4409-4416; 7. G. Demboski, GBG, Properties of weft knitted composites affected by perform stretching, Applied Composite Materials 8 (2001) 371-384; 8. Z. Zografski, GBG, V. Petrusevski, A machine learning method with hybrid neural networks for spectrum analysis, 44th ACM SE’06 Conference, March 10-12, Melbourne, Florida (U.S.A.) 2006 (full paper on CD); 9. GBG, M. Avella, M. Malinconico, A. Buzarovska, A. Grozdanov, G. Gentile, M. Errico, Natural fibre eco-composites, Polymer Composites 28 (1) (2007) 98-107; 10. L Raka, B. Dimzoski, J. Loos, GBG, Non-isothermal and isothermal crystallisation of PP/clay nano-composites: kinetic approach, European Discussion Meeting, October 3-6, Waldau, 2007 * Bojan Dimzoski is a Ph.D. student at TMF, with expertise in the field of polymer materials, comprising polymer composites and foams. He has already participated in two research projects under the auspices of the EUROPEAN UNION and in four domestic ones. His scientific work encompasses two research stays abroad: Technische Fachhochschule Wildau, Berlin, GERMANY, 2003 (4 months stay) and ICTP, Napoli, ITALY, 2006 (1 month). He is author or co-author of 4 original papers.
Main contactFaculty of Science, Institute of Chemistry
Univeristy Ss Cyril and Methodius Prof. Viktor Stefov > Full Professor Organisation type > University |
Contribution to project
The Faculty of Science (FS) will contribute to the project by participation in the tasks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. First, FS will perform certain specific analyses related to chemical characterisation of the polymer resin components to determine the reaction conditions of network formation. For this purpose the techniques of FTIR-microscopy (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), FTIR-ATR and micro-Raman (for following the surface peculiarities of the composite material cured under different reaction conditions) will be applied. Second, the part of the coating material analysis will be done by FS in cooperation with PLASMA. FS will participate in the research of the technology to pile up the coating to the composite material, using model samples with different characteristics produced by EUROKOMPOZIT. FS in cooperation with TMF and other partners will contribute to determining the most appropriate composite material for the project purposes.
Expertise
The Institute of Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences (FS), University Ss Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Republic of MACEDONIA, has already been identified as a potential centre of excellence by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia in the answers to the Questionnaire of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION. Its competence and relevance is supported by the fact that 28.3 % (for the period 1971-2004) of all the published scientific papers in international journals (cited in the Science Citation Index) from the REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA come from the researchers from the Institute of Chemistry, which, on the other hand, employs 1.4 % of the researchers in the country (data from 2004). The positive trend of getting more relevant and competitive results can be illustrated by the fact that 67 % of them have been published in the last decade. Among the research activities at the Institute, the groups working on characterisation of various materials are the most active. The research into various aspects of material science at the INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY has a long tradition starting in the 1970s. The structural chemistry group has a reputation of a leading group in the region and in the area of structural characterisation of different metal complexes, minerals and bio-minerals, organo-metalic compounds, and in the last decade, catalysts, semi-conducting and bio-active solid films and nano-materials. Studying various physical and chemical properties of the materials is important in order to reveal their specific application. In the scientific approach, structure elucidation is crucial to understanding the structure-property relationships i.e. answering the question as to how structure affects/produces a specific feature, which further leads to synthesis of novel materials with improved features for specific applications. Structural characterisation of materials has mainly been made using spectroscopy and diffractometry. The spectroscopic measurements have for the most part been performed at the INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY, where modern equipment for acquisition of vibrational spectra (FTIR and Raman spectrometers) of solids at temperature range from boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen up to 300 degrees Celsius is available and extensively used. The pool of equipment which has been used for research activities at the Institute consists of 2 Fourier-transform infrared interferometers; infrared reflectance microscope; micro Raman spectrometer; 3 UV-VIS spectrophotometers; 3 Atomic absorption spectrometers with flame and electro thermal atomisation, hydride generation system and deuterium and Zeeman background correction; high-performance liquid chromatograph with UV-diode (Ultraviolet) array detector and mass spectrometric detector; gas chromatograph with mass spectrometric and flame ionisation detector; 2 electrochemical measuring stations based on Autolab potentiostats/galvanostats; wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence; stereo zoom microscope; ICP Instrument (Intrinsically Conductive Polymer); and others. PAPERS 1. V. Stefov, B. Soptrajanov, M. Najdoski, B. Engelen, H. D. Lutz , J. Mol. Struct., 872, 87-92 (2008). 2. F. Spirovski, B. Engelen, V. Stefov, Z. Kristallogr. NCS, 222, 91-92 (2007). 3. Lj. Pejov, M. Solimannejad, V. Stefov, Chem. Phys., 323, 259-270 (2006). 4. G.V. Yukhnevich, E.G. Tarakanova, V. Stefov, J. Opt. Technol., 72, 423-425 (2005). 5. I. Kuzmanovski, M. Ristova, B. Soptrajanov, V. Stefov, V. Popovski, Talanta, 62, 813-817 (2004). 6. I. Kuzmanovski, M. Trpkovska, B. Soptrajanov, V. Stefov, Analitica Chimica Acta, 491, 211-218 (2003). PATENTS 1. T. Stafilov, V. Stefov, D. Arabadjiev, B. Stjepovic, 1997 (patent), Procedure for Obtaining Calcium Fluoride, Silicic Acid and Carbon Dioxide, 900412/MKP C01F 11/22. 2. V. Stefov, T. Stafilov, D. Arabadjiev, 2000 (patent), Manufacture of Calcium Fluoride (CaF2), SILICIC ACID (SiO2 - nH2O) and silicium dioxide (SiO2), 900746/MKP C01F 11/22, C01B 33/12 3. T. Stafilov, V. Stefov, D. Arabadjiev, 2001 (patent), procedure for obtaining silicic acid (SiO2 nH2O) with high purity and silicium dioxide (SiO2) with high purity, 900670/MKP C01B 33/00. 4. T. Stafilov, V. Stefov, D. Arabadjiev, 2002 (patent), procedure for purification of calcium fluoride 900737/MKP C01F 11/22, C01F 11/32, C01F 11/38. 5. D. Arabadjiev, T. Stafilov, V. Stefov, 2002 (patent), procedure for obtaining calcium fluoride (CaF2) with high purity, 900747/MKP C01F 11/22. 6. V. Stefov, M. Najdoski, T. Stafilov, 2003 (patent), procedure for obtaining magnesium sulphate heptahydrate, gypsum and carbon dioxide from dolomite, 900851/MKP C01F 5/40.
Main contact11Oktomvri - EUROKOMPOZIT M. Sc. Vineta Srebrenkoska > Head of R&D http://www.eurokompozit.com.mk Organisation type > Large company |
Contribution to project
The main technological contribution of ‘11 OKTOMVRI EUROKOMPOZIT’ will be development of new composite material and technology for the production of lighter pistons for pneumatic and hydraulic piston valves as well as characterisation of overall composite properties. The company will thus contribute in task 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 and will also cooperate with other partners in fulfilling the project tasks connected with the model composite samples produced for starting experiments with the application of the coating pile up technique in PLASMA.
Expertise
The company was established in 1952 as a factory for electro-insulating materials and in 1978 was engaged in the production of special purpose products such as military and police equipment. Since July 1991 the company has been transformed into a holding company ‘EUROINVEST 11 OKTOMVRI’ and consists of 9 L.L.C. One of them was ‘11 OKTOMVRI-EUROKOMPOZIT’, later transformed into a joint stock company with 100% state ownership. Today ‘11 OKTOMVRI-EUROKOMPOZIT’ is under the management of the Board of Directors with a total number of 461 employees. The production program of the company is divided into 2 main branches: military and enforcement equipment and civil trade oriented products. The company is ISO 9001 certified and its products are UL approved. Production technologies recently applied in the company are: impregnation, filament winding, moulding compounding, compression moulding, pultrusion, etc., and the main civil oriented products are technical laminates, decorative laminates, composite cylinders, pipes, rods, etc. (based on epoxy, polyester, vinylester and other resins); filament-wound and tape-wound cylinders and pipes, moulding compounds ( glass/phenolics, carbon/phenolics, glass/polyester, etc.), electro-insulating and thermal-insulating plates, pultruded profiles and other products. The company has in the last 5 years participated in 4 national projects and in FP6. Key personnel * M. Sci. Vineta Srebrenkoska (VS) is head of the R&D department and is currently involved in several national funded (Ministry of Defence) projects. Her research interest mainly includes production and characterisation of glass and carbon fibre composites with phenolic, polyester and epoxy resin systems for a wide range of applications. Her expertise also includes the methods for investigation of mechanical, thermal, electrical, rheological properties of polymeric systems in general. VS is author and co-author of more than 30 scientific and conference papers and more than 10 technological innovations already accepted and applied in ‘11 OKTOMVRI-EUROKOMPOZIT’. VS is an internal auditor for product quality control. * Dr. Dimko Dimeski (DD) is scientific counsellor in the company, involved in many national funded (Ministry of Defence) projects. His research interest and expertise is first of all directed towards production of polymer composite materials based on aramid, polyethylene and glass fibres/fabrics for ballistic application. DD is author and co-author of 40 scientific and conference papers and numerous technological innovations applied in the company.