The French Institute for Technological Research (IRT Jules Verne) has announced the FIBIAS++ project, which aims to develop thermoplastic composites (TPC) using recycled materials for use in the automotive industry. The project is a collaboration between various partners, including automotive technology supplier Compositec and Stellantis. The goal is to develop TPC that are both environmentally sustainable and high-performing, while reducing vehicle emissions and weight.
The project is building on initial research that focused on developing technologies for processing TPC, and adds an environmental dimension to incorporate recycled materials. The team is working on composites such as organosheets, glass mat-reinforced thermoplastics, and sandwich structures, aiming to incorporate recycled materials like PET. The benefits of using recycled materials include reducing CO2 emissions by 50% compared to traditional materials and lightweighting by 30-35% compared to metal structures.
The project has also developed a low-shear mixer for recycling composite scraps and off-cuts, which can be reused to form finished parts or assemblies with metal parts. The results are encouraging, and the project could pave the way for the wider integration of recycled TPC in various industrial sectors.