Enhancing Competence for Future Sustainable MarINE iNdusTry: Material Selection (EMINENT 1/2)

Purpose and goal:

A big part of the X Shore boat structure is made of sandwich panels with Glass Fiber (GF) or Carbon Fiber (CF) and PVC core. One of X Shore goals is to make the boat more sustainable. In this project we focused on the following challenges: Change the PVC core which is not recyclable to a more sustainable core.

Change one of the GF layers to Natural Fibers.

Several samples (sandwich panels) with different core materials and types of fibers were manufactured and tested mechanically. With all the data, a potential change was suggested to X Shore. Expected results and effects:

Researchers involved in this project gained a lot of knowledge regarding materials used for the marine industry and how we can replace them with more sustainable materials using more cost-effective manufacturing techniques and X Shore got access to academic expertise and input. The work performed was developed in one master and two bachelor projects presented at LiU with the presence of students and representatives from X Shore.

Projects of this nature not only serve as a platform for X Shore to showcase their initiatives but also serve to build closer connections with future engineers. Approach and implementation:

The researchers involved in this project have visited X Shore approximately 24 times/days during the period of the project to collect information for analysis and conduct workshops with X Shore staff. Also, during that period, one master project was presented in June 2023 and two bachelor projects were presented in May 2024. During the project a lot of manufacturing and testing was performed at Linköping University, and all needed materials, tools were supplied by X Shore. The results have been presented and discussed as part of the project to co-create mutual knowledge.