MP: RECOMAT - Gjenvinning av komposittmaterialer

The production of composite materials in Europe in 2019 is approx. 1.3 million tonnes per year. Fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP) accounts for 95% of this, the other 5% being epoxy and vinyl ester based composites. Composites are increasingly being used to replace metals in a wide range of applications in energy and construction, transport, sports and electronics. Although composite materials have superior properties for a variety of applications, the disadvantage of these materials is that they are very challenging to recycle. There are currently no established processes for chemical recovery of composites. SINTEF have developed a chemical process for recycling of composite materials. The process is industrially interesting since it can be operated at relatively low temperatures and since it provides faster recovery compared to similar processes. The process is based on the chopped FRP waste, and supplies recycled fiberglass and resins as a product. For the fiber product (chopped fiber) there is already an established market, i.e. for reinforcement of concrete. The resin product can be used toghether with virgin resin in new composite materials, or alone for new applications. The industry has expressed a clear desire for novel solutions for recycling of composite materials, provided that certain materials quality requirements can be met, and if the process can be proved to be environmentally and economically sustainable. The technology is owned by SINTEF, and has been partially verified through previous projects funded by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners. The project aims to clarify critical process parameters, to make SINTEF able to plan upscaleD tests in pilot plants in collaboration with industry.

Prosjektet skal bidra til forbedret miljøeffekt ved: -redusert bruk av råmateriale -redusert mengde komposittavfall -redusert miljøavtrykk ved å gi muligheten til å bruke gjenvunnet resin i nye kompositt produkter