Composite Recycling, a Swiss company, has developed a new thermolysis technology that can break down fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) into their fundamental components, allowing for the creation of new composite materials. The process involves breaking down the complex materials using a controlled heating process in an oxygen-free environment, which preserves the fibers and their properties. This technology is different from other recycling methods, which often result in lower-value products or require higher temperatures, which can damage the fibers. The company’s static thermolysis technology has been successfully tested at an industrial scale, with the delivery of its first unit to a Veolia site in Western France. The technology has also shown promising results with the Elium resin, with a recovery rate of over 70%. The company is now launching a circularity initiative focused on boat materials, collaborating with companies like Arkema, Veolia, Groupe Beneteau, Owens Corning, and Chomarat to create a circular supply of recycled composites for new boat construction. This initiative aims to demonstrate the potential for sustainable boat building and highlights the company’s ambition to make products recyclable by design.
Recycling polymeric materials with reinforcing fibers through a low-oxygen thermal decomposition process, a game-changer in chemical engineering.
