MSGID: 1:317/3 64a3a093   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    The looming 840,000 ton waste problem that isn't single-use plastics   
    Researchers develop recycling method to address carbon and glass fiber   
   composites waste crisis    
      
     Date:   
         July 3, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Sydney   
     Summary:   
         Researchers have developed new methods to solve a major source   
         of future waste from the automotive, aerospace and renewable   
         industries.   
      
      
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   It's estimated that by 2030 carbon and glass fibre composites (CFRP),   
   materials commonly used in wind turbine blades, hydrogen tanks, airplanes,   
   yachts, construction, and car manufacturing, will be a key waste stream   
   worldwide.   
      
   The annual accumulation of CFRP waste from aircraft and wind turbine   
   industries alone is projected to reach 840,300 tonnes by 2050 -- the   
   equivalent of 34 full stadiums -- if suitable recycling methods are   
   not adopted.   
      
   While recycling methods do exist, most of this waste currently goes   
   to landfill or is incinerated. The production of "virgin" composites   
   has further implications for the environment too, including resource   
   depletion and high energy input during production.   
      
   This is despite the existence of numerous methods to recycle carbon fibre   
   composites which a research team at the University of Sydney says, if   
   fully implemented, have the potential to significantly reduce energy use   
   by 70 percent and prevent key streams of materials from going to waste.   
      
   "Carbon fibre composites are considered a 'wonder' material -- they are   
   durable, resistant to weathering and highly versatile -- so much so that   
   their use is projected to increase by at least 60 percent in the next   
   decade alone," said Dr Hadigheh from the School of Civil Engineering. "But   
   this huge growth also brings a huge increase in waste. For instance,   
   it's been estimated that around 500,000 tonnes of carbon and glass   
   fibre composite waste from the renewable energy sector will exist by   
   2030."  A new recycling method To tackle this issue, Dr Hadigheh and   
   his recent PhD graduate Dr Yaning Wei have developed a new recycling   
   method for carbon and glass fibre composites in a bid to prevent from   
   end-of-generation materials going to landfill. Published in Composites   
   Part B: Engineering their approach ensures increased material recovery   
   and improved energy efficiency compared to previous methods.   
      
   "Our kinetic analysis revealed that pre-treated CFRP undergoes   
   an additional reaction stage, enabling enhanced breakdown at lower   
   temperatures compared to untreated CFRP," said Dr Hadigheh. The solvolysis   
   pre-treatment not only facilitates greater breakdown but also preserves   
   the mechanical properties of fibres by reducing heat consumption during   
   recycling."  Recycled fibres obtained from pre-treated CFRP retained   
   up to 90 percent of their original strength, surpassing the strength of   
   fibres recovered through thermal degradation alone by 10 percent.   
      
   "To demonstrate the real-world applicability of our method, we   
   successfully recycled part of a bicycle frame and airplane scraps made   
   of CFRP composites using our hybrid approach. These results not only   
   validate the effectiveness of chemical pre-treatment but also demonstrate   
   the improved mechanical characteristics of the recycled carbon fibres,"   
   said Dr Hadigheh.   
      
   Reclaiming carbon fibre In a previous paper, the team also presented   
   a detailed evaluation of 10 different carbon and glass fibre composite   
   waste treatment systems based on economic efficiency and environmental   
   effects, taking into consideration the type of waste material and its   
   geographical location.   
      
   Dr Hadigheh's team found that solvolysis -- a method whereby materials can   
   be broken down with an application of solvent under a specific pressure   
   and temperature -- could reclaim carbon fibre while delivering a high   
   net profit.   
      
   Thermal recycling methods such as catalytic pyrolysis and pyrolysis   
   coupled with oxidation also provided a high economic return.   
      
   Solvolysis and electrochemical methods were also shown to lead to   
   substantially lower CO2 emissions into the atmosphere than landfilling   
   and incineration.   
      
   A huge opportunity The researchers said that manufacturers should look   
   beyond continuously creating virgin material and, in parallel, develop   
   recycled products from end- of-life streams.   
      
   "This is a huge opportunity," said Dr Wei. "And not only because various   
   modes of recycling are cost-effective and minimally impactful on the   
   environment. In an era of mounting supply chain disruptions, local   
   recycled products can provide a more immediate product when compared   
   to imports and create a burgeoning advanced manufacturing industry."   
   "While awareness of everyday consumer recycling is increasing and plastic   
   waste is in the spotlight, Australia must urgently consider wide-scale   
   recycling of new generation construction materials before they mount   
   up as another waste problem and are put into the 'too hard basket'."   
   Dr Hadigheh's team is also developing methods for the recycling of   
   composite materials and recently patented a machine to precisely align   
   recycled carbon fibres, so that they can be repurposed.   
      
   About the analysis The researchers conducted life cycle analysis   
   (LCA), cost benefit analysis (CBA) and technology readiness level   
   (TRL) assessments of the different waste treatment methods: landfill,   
   incineration, mechanical recycling, catalytic pyrolysis, oxidation,   
   pyrolysis combined with oxidation, fluidised bed, solvolysis using alkali   
   and acid solvents, and electrochemical methods.   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Matter_&_Energy   
                   # Engineering_and_Construction # Civil_Engineering #   
                   Construction   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Recycling_and_Waste # Environmental_Science #   
                   Hazardous_Waste   
             o Science_&_Society   
                   # Energy_Issues # Environmental_Policies # STEM_Education   
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             o Automotive_aerodynamics o Renewable_energy o Radioactive_waste   
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   Source: Materials provided by University_of_Sydney. Note: Content may   
   be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Y. Wei, S.A. Hadigheh. Development of an innovative hybrid thermo-   
         chemical recycling method for CFRP waste recovery. Composites   
         Part B: Engineering, 2023; 260: 110786 DOI:   
         10.1016/j.compositesb.2023.110786   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230703133034.htm   
      
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