Characterising 3R Vitrimer Prepregs for Toroidal Propeller Production

We’re excited to share the latest progress in the production and assessment of the 3R vitrimer prepregs developed for TORPROPEL.

The current phase focuses on understanding how these materials behave and optimize them for sustainable fabrication of toroidal propellers for aircraft propulsion. Rigorous characterization is what transforms an innovative material into a reliable aerospace component.

TORPROPEL undertakes a comprehensive optimization cycle to assess all relevant manufacturing routes from fabric-to-prepreg and tow-to-prepreg, ensuring the highest possible material performance to produce the toroidal propeller demonstrator.

At TORPROPEL partners, CIDETEC and CSM Lab (University of Ioannina), the vitrimer prepregs are undergoing a thorough characterization campaign including:

💡 Thermomechanical analysis to define curing windows, transition temperatures, and service limits

💡 Rheology and flow studies to ensure optimal impregnation and consolidation during RTS placement

💡 Physical characterization to verify tape quality and consistency, including fiber areal weight, fiber volume content, tape thickness, and dimensional reproducibility

This activity represents a major step toward refining the manufacturing pathway and ensuring robust, repeatable composite performance. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all partners involved in the trials and analyses, and we look forward to advancing to the next phase together.