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Low-Temperature Composite Recycling Process--Adherent Technologies, Inc., 9621 Camino del Sol, NE, Albuquerque, NM  87111-1522; 505-346-1685

Dr. Jan-Michael Gosau, Principal Investigator

Dr. Ronald E. Allred, Business Official

DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-00ER82935

Amount:  $100,000

 

The increased use of composite materials presents a new challenge to the recycling world. Many composites, especially those made with carbon fiber reinforcements, are bulky parts, made of non-biodegradable material and contain a potentially valuable resource, carbon fiber. Even poor quality chopped or milled carbon fiber commands a price of $4 per pound.  There is no commercial process available to reclaim carbon fiber from composites, but many companies have stockpiles of recyclable material.  Adherent Technologies (ATI) has been developing processes to reclaim these fibers while converting the composite resin into valuable chemical raw material.  So far, none of the processes has reached commercial viability, either the product quality is not within market parameters or the capital investment necessary makes the process economically questionable.  Recent research has, however, opened the door for the development of a low-cost recycling approach using a novel catalytic process that can be performed using standard chemical equipment to produce a fiber of acceptable quality.  The goal of this Phase I program is to demonstrate the technical viability of the process on a pilot scale.  The program will include a study of the chemistry of the process and of the products, both fiber and chemical raw materials.  It will also deal with the commercialization aspect and show the economic viability of the concept.

 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  The reclamation of fiber from carbon fiber composites has a great commercial future.  The market for carbon fiber-reinforced composites is projected to grow exponentially over the next decades.  An established recycling procedure will save the substantial amounts of energy needed to produce carbon fibers and will also allow use in areas where environmental laws have so far precluded composites from being applied.  The initial market in the first year is estimated at $2 million, climbing to $10 million over 5 years.