Uses of innovative polymer microtubular components render
opportunities to innovate the product design to meet now social and economical
needs. Potential applications include specially shaped functional components for
an instrument innovated by the Polytubes consortium for electrophysiological
study on human sperms, heat transfer structural and functional parts for
micro-heat exchangers, parts for Capillary Electrochromatography, etc. Besides
efforts to ensure functional realization of the innovative products which use
polymer microtubular components, manufacturing challenges must be met to produce
sophisticated micro geometrical features of the components with an efficiency
which is economically viable.
The overall objective of the POLYTUBES project is to develop
a process chain and corresponding micro-manufacturing platform for the
manufacture of polymer-microtubes and tubular micro-components for innovative
products (medical and non medical applications). It aims to create new markets
for EU SMEs with innovative and economically competitive micro-products and
micro-manufacturing equipment to meet the needs for a wide range of emerging
applications. The development will also support the SMEs to increase business
opportunities with new volume production capabilities in micro-manufacturing.
The proposed development could place EU in a pole position in the manufacture
and innovative applications of micro-tubular products.
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