The need of using high performance lightweight materials is pushing the aerospace industry to incorporate aluminium alloys in many parts of the aircraft. But all aircraft components, and especially those of landing gears, need to be able to withstand friction and corrosive environments while continuing to operate at optimum levels. Nowadays most landing gear parts made of aluminium alloys are protected against corrosion by surface anodising and multilayer painting. The treatment is usually carried out on Cr(VI) based compounds. To date, there is not any Cr-free accepted protecting treatment for Al 7000 series alloys that fulfils the aeronautics requirements, so, it is necessary to develop an environmentally and Cr-free acceptable alternative process. The main objective of ECOLAND project is to face the research of a suitable REACH compliant anaphoretic electrocoating treatment (including both the optimal pretreatment method and anaphoretic electrocoating application conditions) that can replace the currently used anodising + painting treatment for protection of Al 7000 series alloys in aeronautic applications. This anaphoretic electrocoating will allow a reduction of emissions, saving of coat and improvement of corrosion protection. The following improvements will be aimed from the ECOLAND Cr-free project: • The lifetime of the anaphoretic electrocoating system shall be 25 % longer than the lifetime of traditional. • It is expected a minimum of around 30% cost and 45% energy consumption reduction in manufacturing compared to currently available systems. • Thanks to the new coating systems more complex geometry parts could be coated and so landing gears might be designed lighter than currently ones. • The production time to be shortened in a 55%. • A decrease of the risk of mechanical failure due to the reduction of the alloy exposure time to acids. • VOCs emissions will be reduced in a 50%.

In the light of the recently published ‘A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’ document, all stakeholders involved in the life cycle of plastic packaging are striving towards achieving a solution which could curb plastic pollution and its adverse impact on our lives and the environment. Consumers and retailers demand a packaging film which can be 100% recycled or can be completely biologically decomposed. Compostable plastics have the ability to break down, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment (soil). There is a need of a totally compostable wrapping packaging solution (film, label and tray) along with an easy-to-use (and maintain) cost effective packaging machines. 2. 3. In a response to this market need, the project consortium led by Fabbri Group is developing a platform technology ‘Nature Fresh’ which is a complete compostable film packaging solution targeted specifically at the fresh food packaging markets (meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables). Nature Fresh delivers retailers. food processors, and the common public direct environmental benefits and addresses a current opportunity to reduce the use of plastic. At the same time the product will assist in meeting sustainability initiatives. Through this 30 months FTI project, the consortium aims to carry out activities such as commercial scale manufacturing of the compostable films, design and development of the automatic wrapping machines, design and development compostable label, gain regulatory approvals and conduct end-user trials to gain market acceptance and a swift market entry by Q2- 2022.

Chromic Acid anodizing (CAA) of aluminium parts has been extensively used during decades in aircraft manufacturing thanks to its excellent performance. However, hexavalent chromium is known to be carcinogenic and harmful for the environment. The main objective of the topic to which the present proposal relates is to optimize a Chromium-free sealing process for thin layer Sulfuric Acid Anodizing (SAA) as eco-friendly alternative to CAA for aluminium unpainted parts. In the present Project, a statistical approach based on Design of Experiment (DoE) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) will be used to optimize two sealing solutions, one previously studied by the Topic Manager and one to be proposed by the Cosortium. The optimization will be performed firstly at laboratory scale for AA2024 taking into consideration corrosion resistance in Salt Spray Test (SST), economic and ecological aspects. In parallel, the mechanism of corrosion protection will be proposed and the stability against contaminant and ageing of the solutions will be assessed. Secondly, still at laboratory scale, the optimized process will be implemented to other aluminium alloys, performing adaptations or modifications if necessary. Afterwards, the two sealing processes will be scaled-up employing a pilot plant. In case problems arise, the lab-scale and pilot-scale studies will be iterated. Finally, the sealing processes will be implemented in an industrial scale and demonstrators will be processed. The characterization of samples and demonstrator will include SST, weight and thickness of anodic layer; Contact Angle Measurements (CAM), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Focused Ion Beam (SEM-FIB). Additional techniques are considered as well in case they are useful.

The main objective of NEMARCO is to select the adequate chemical composition(s) and manufacturing process parameters for obtaining sealing rings of nickel self-fluxing alloys that can offer the required performance against high-temperature (HT) wear and overcome the health potential issue regarding wear particles Cobalt alloys (current solution) in cabin air. Two manufacturing routes: Horizontal Centrifugal Casting (CC) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD), will be studied. The achievement of this objective is based on a well-structured approach that combines (i) a preliminary selection of NiCrSiFeB commercial compositions that can favour manufacturing processability while improving wear behaviour at HT supported by simulation of phase’s formation, segregation, precipitation and diffusion phenomena to predict microstructure formation, as well as process simulation to evaluate specific conditions for solidification. (ii) Robust manufacturing study of both processing routes supported by advanced data analytics of all process and product related variables, allowing to identify those parameters with the highest influence and thus, support in the definition of the optimal manufacturing conditions. (iii) Extensive tribological studies at high temperature. This will support for the selection of the best composition and manufacturing solution of NiCrSiFeB alloys as replacement of the actual Cobalt alloys to produce aeronautic parts. (iv) A rigorous LCA/LCC and a preliminary toxicity analysis, leading to a deeper knowledge of environmental performance and economic impact of the solution. The project will contribute on a reduction of fuel consumption, healthier cabin air and a reduction of costs for a more competitive EU aircraft industry. The implementation is carried out by a multidisciplinary consortium formed by experts in LMD (LORTEK), CC (AZTERLAN), HT behaviour of materials and wear particles characterization (ECL-LTDS and CIDETEC) and LCA/LCC and toxicity analysis (CTME).