Abstract
An innovative recycling process for thermoset polymer composites developed by Connora Technologies (Hayward, CA, USA) was studied. The process efficacy has already been tested, and it is currently working at the plant level. The main aspect investigated in the present paper was the environmental impact by means of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. Because of the need to recycle and recover materials at their end of life, the Connora process creates a great innovation in the market of epoxy composites, as they are notoriously not recyclable. Connora Technologies developed a relatively gentle chemical recycling process that induces the conversion of thermosets into thermoplastics. The LCA demonstrated that low environmental burdens are associated with the process itself and, furthermore, impacts are avoided due to the recovery of the epoxy-composite constituents (fibres and matrix). A carbon fibre (CF) epoxy-composite panel was produced through Vacuum Resin Transfer Moulding (VRTM) and afterwards treated using the Connora recycling process. The LCA results of both the production and the recycling phases are reported.
Highlights
Several techniques have been developed in order to induce the depolymerisation of thermosetting resins contained in composite materials to make them recyclable [1,2].After depolymerisation, the resins dissolve and inorganic substances such as metal, glass fibre (GF), and carbon fibre (CF) can be separated and recovered [3,4,5,6,7,8,9].In this field, a series of recyclable amine-based epoxy curing agents, called Recyclamines®, have been developed by Connora Technologies in the last few years
LCIAmethods methodswere wereused usedfor forthe theimpact impactinterpretation
As the market for the epoxy composites is still growing, since they are the preferred choice for aircraft and car structures [27], it is very important to develop and optimize recycling processes at industrial level
Summary
The resins dissolve and inorganic substances such as metal, glass fibre (GF), and CF can be separated and recovered [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. In this field, a series of recyclable amine-based epoxy curing agents, called Recyclamines® , have been developed by Connora Technologies in the last few years. The central programmed cleavage group is key to recyclability by converting the epoxy resin into epoxy thermoplastic. The conditions required to quickly induce crosslink cleavage in the epoxy are a combination of temperature (70–100 ◦ C) and pH (acidic)
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