The recycling of carbon fiber composite

 

Carbon fiber is a material with unique physical and mechanical properties. It is essential to the ecological transition. Nevertheless, the recycling of carbon fiber reinforced plastic remains a problem. What about carbon fiber composite recycling? This infographic tells you more about the recycling of carbon fiber composite today.

 

 

Carbon fiber recycling, what’s new?

Every second, 2 kg of carbon fibers are produced in the world*. This material with unique physical and mechanical properties is essential to the ecological transition. Nevertheless, carbon fiber recycling remains a problem.

The market of carbon fiber

Firstly, the demand for carbon fiber composites is constantly increasing. By 2070, 190 million tons of carbon fiber composites from airplanes, wind turbines, hydrogen cars, and many other technological innovations will be discarded*.

The end of life for carbon fiber composites

Secondly, carbon fiber composite waste is overwhelmingly landfilled or incinerated. 2,500 tons of carbon fiber scrap in France, which is neither sorted nor recovered, should end in landfills by 2025*.

Recycling methods

Furthermore, traditional recycling by pyrolysis, solvolysis, or fluidized bed process is neither cost-efficient nor virtuous:

• +1.2 Kg of CO2e per Kg recycled
• low competitiveness.

The virtuous recycling solution for carbon fiber composite

However, Fairmat relies on a mechanical method and many technologies (artificial intelligence, robotics, algorithms, etc.) to implement its virtuous and large-scale recycling solution. This solution thus avoids landfills or incineration of waste.

The Fairmat material

Moreover, Fairmat produces a sustainable and performing material to reduce the C02 emissions during the entire life cycle of your products. Many sectors such as mobility, renewable energies, construction, sports and design can use our material.

Want to know more about the Fairmat recycling of carbon fiber composite and our innovative material? Contact us.

 

*Searching for Scheibe, M.; Urbaniak, M.; Goracy, K.; Bledzki, A.K. Problems connected with 
utilization of polymer composite products and waste materials—Part II. “Scrapping” of composite 
recreational vessels in the world in the perspective of 2030. Polimery 2019, 64, 788–794. 
Bledzki, A.K.; Goracy, K.; Urbaniak, M.; Scheibe, M. Problems connected with utilization of 
polymer composite products and waste materials—Part I. Production volume, utilization of 
composites with carbon fibres, legislative aspects, industrial recycling. Polimery 2019, 64, 777
–787. Rapport sur le marché mondial des matériaux composites réalisé par l’organisation 
allemande AVK. Estimation of CO2 emissions averted by not using new raw materials according 
to ADEME value of carbon fiber composite CO2 emissions.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-020-2195-4, chapter 'Pyrolysis and chemical 
recycling process'