Recycling concepts
R&D work here focuses on recycling concepts aiming ad obtaining and reusing high-tech fibres such as carbon and aramid fibres
in the medium-length range of 5 – 60 mm. These recycled fibers can be
utilised in new semifinished products for the fibre composite sector and
can be employed in other industries as well.
Specific activities
include the development of new recycling concepts, the generation of
feasibility studies, the preparation of sample amounts of materials, the
development of complete value chains, and expert advice for
implementation in industrial-scale.
The studies focus on:
- Waste of reinforced-fiber materials from the semifinished product manufacturing process – e.g. fabric layers, woven fabrics, braids
- Waste of soft reinforced-fiber materials from the fibre composite production process – e.g. from cutting and punching processes performed prior to the composite consolidation phase as well as
- Recycled fibres obtained through various other fibre recycling techniques
The typical semifinished products for reuse are:
- Needle-punched nonwovens and mats
- Nonwovens bonded thermally or with binding agents
- Wet laid nonwovens
- Various fibre granules and chips/flakes for compounding/injection moulding with a fibre content of up to 95% (concentrate)
Technical equipment
- Waste processing: Cutting machines and mills for shredding and grinding
- Recycling fibres: Textile openers and special de-fibration technology
- Processing technology for wet and dry laid, mechanically or thermally bonded nonwovens; processing technology for producing granules or chips with free-flowing properties
- Testing of semifinished products in model composites using pressing and injection moulding techniques (including determination of relevant composite properties)