■ Technology Overview

Composite material waste is typically composed by multiple materials and is commonly found in industries such as bicycles, sports equipment, after-market vehicle parts, wind power, and aerospace.

This technology utilizes a combination of appropriate catalysts and solvents with a lowtemperature (<100℃)chemical degradation process to achieve the separation and recovery of epoxy resin, fibers, and metal inserts from the composite materials. Through continuous optimization, the technology has achieved:

  ▶ High Fiber Recovery Rate: The fiber recovery rate reaches 95%.

  ▶ Low Energy Consumption: Processing energy consumption is 1 kWh/kg, realizing a lowcarbon

     recycling process.

  ▶ High Reuse Value: The recycled fibers retain over 95% of the strength and modulus of

     virgin fibers, demonstrating high potential for reuse.

  ▶ Near-Lossless Recovery of Inserts: Pre-embedded metal inserts, such as aluminum alloys

     and stainless steel, can be recovered with virtually no damage.

  ▶ Full-Cycle Application: The recovered resin has been tested by resin manufacturers and

     can be returned to industrial reuse. Furthermore, the process solvent can be recovered

     and recycled, achieving the goal of a full-cycle regenerative application.

 

■ Recycled Materials and Market Impact

The glass fibers(GF)and carbon fibers(CF)recovered by this technology possess performance nearly identical to the original virgin fibers. These recovered fibers can be reprocessed and used as raw materials in the manufacture of new composite products, such as:

  ▶ Short fibers.

  ▶ Fiber mats.

  ▶ Molding compounds(e.g., BMC, SMC)

  ▶ Fiber-containing plastic pellets.

 

They are compatible with existing manufacturing processes like hot pressing and injection molding. The resulting components can be applied across various industries, including bicycles, 3C(Computers, Communications,and Consumer Electronics), electric vehicles, construction,and sports equipment, continuously promoting circular value in these sectors. Converting waste into resources will:

  ▶ Create a domestic market for low-carbon recycled composite products valued at NT$16.6

     billion annually.

  ▶ Reduce annual carbon emissions by over 1.08 million metric tons.

  ▶ Generate annual domestic carbon fee savings of NT$320 million and reduce international

     carbon costs by over NT$3.88 billion per year.

 

■ Service Offering and Implementation

This technology offers services including patent licensing, technology transfer, and turnkey plant solutions. Currently, we have collaborated with manufacturers to establish a system with an annual processing capacity of 10 metric tons.Future plans involve the design and construction of a module with an annual processing capacity of 30 metric tons.

 

 

 

■ Contact Us

Material and Chemical Research Laboratories

Dept. of Advanced Composites Design and

Applications (J700)

 

Jih-Hsiang Yeh

Tel:+886-3-5915356

Email:z.s.yeh@itri.org.tw