Project duration: 1 January 2019 – 31 March 2022
Objective
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) are the main material used whenever rigidity and lightweight are required. Within these features, CFRPs can be used in a large range of applications. Nevertheless, this material has today very low recyclability, high cost, and high carbon footprint – drawbacks that prevent its broad use in sectors like sports equipment, nautical and automobile industries. With the increasing demand for CFRPs, production waste and end-of-life products are also expecting to increase. These both factors combined demand the emergence of a new market on high-quality recycled carbon fibres with the advantages of lower price and lower carbon footprint needed to facilitate the substitution of critical raw materials in the industry.
The solution (technology)
The RELICARIO project aims to develop to the demonstration scale a new technology to recycle CFRPs using thermosolvolysis. The patented process uses low pressure and low temperature, offering easier industriability and lower process cost comparing with available processes to recycle CFRPs. Moreover, the oligomers of the degraded composite matrix can be recovered in this process, for a maximum valorisation of by-products. In this project, the technical feasibility of this technology will be proven through performance modelling, product analysis and pre-serial fabrication of automotive pieces made with recycled fibres, thus focusing in the substitution of metals currently used in the automotive industry by recycled carbon fibres.
Partnership
- Extracthive, France (Lead Partner)
- Veolia Umweltservice GmbH, Germany
- Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), France
- Ghent University, Belgium
- LEARTIKER SCOOP., Spain
- MAIER S. COOP., Spain
- Mondragon Corporation S. Coop., Spain
- Veolia Deutschland GmbH, Germany
- Veolia Recherche et Innovation (VERI), France