PLASTICS SPECIAL
53recyclinginternational.com | November/December | 2020
The mats are made from recycled car-
bon fibres mixed with thermoplastic
fibre. A variety of thermoplastics can
be used, such as polypropylene, poly-
amide and polyphenylene sulfide, with
average carbon fibre content between
25% and 40%. The tensile strength of
recycled fibres is reduced by only
about 10% when compared to virgin
fibres.
HigH class materials
Barnes reveals that ELG has recently
joined forces with Belgian firm
Aerocircular NV to establish a closed-
loop recycling scheme for carbon fibre
waste streams from end-of-life aircraft.
The two companies have signed a
memorandum of understanding to
demonstrate their mutual commit-
ment towards this initiative.
‘Today, composite carbon fibre frac-
tions are typically shredded and then
burned or landfilled,’ says Koen Staut,
ceo of Aerocircular. The collaboration
with ELG should realise a ‘robust’ and
economically viable recycling flow on
an industrial scale. Every tonne of car-
bon fibre from the aircraft that is
transformed into new material saves
20 tonnes of global warming potential
CO2 equivalent with only 10% of the
energy required to produce virgin car-
bon fibre.
Barnes insists this new class of recy-
cled materials delivers technical, eco-
nomical and environmental benefits.
‘By working with Aerocircular and
expanding our activities into post-con-
sumer waste from end-of-life aircraft,
we are preparing to address the chal-
lenge that will be faced when carbon
fibre-intensive structures reach the
end of their lives,’ he notes. Barnes
emphasises that carbon fibre recycling
is still a young sector and with that
comes overcoming obstacles, such as
those seen during the year, and stay-
ing focussed to capture market poten-
tial. ‘That’s why nine out of our 73
employees are part of the R&D
department,’ he says.
‘At any rate, we should be looking for
sustainable, circular solutions for every
product,’ adds ELG’s technical manag-
er Mathilde Poulet. ‘Downgrading
shouldn’t be the only option – certain-
ly not for highly engineered thermo-
plastics and carbon fibres.’
america’s cup 2021
ELG is also working with the sailing
team INEOS Team UK to ensure sus-
tainable materials and practices are
incorporated in the vessels competing
in the America’s Cup 2021 in New
Zealand. This collaboration will see
ELG’s recycled carbon fibre used on
the AC75 boat scheduled to depart
from Auckland harbour on 6 March.
Barnes says the recycled non-woven
materials are being used in hull and
deck moulds as well for in the con-
struction of two cradles to support the
AC75 during transit. ELG has been a
technical supplier to INEOS Team UK
since 2018 and has processed over a
tonne of carbon fibre manufacturing
waste and end-of-use parts for the
British challengers. Ultimately, ELG
hopes participating in major events
such as the America’s Cup will demon-
strate the power of recycled carbon
fibres for all to see.
Fotobijschrift
ELG and its partner Boeing both observe that despite 2020 having been a challenging year, long-term growth drivers for the global
carbon fibre market remain as well.
KaderKop
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