Reuse of carbon fibres for the generation of textile products for the manufacture of thermoplastic composites

The great development of the carbon fibre composites industry in recent years has made it necessary to introduce new manufacturing techniques that allow the reuse of these fibres after the end of their useful life.

AITEX is finalising the rGENERA project, which aims to generate knowledge towards obtaining recycled carbon fibre thermoplastic composites with medium-high mechanical performance through the use of staple fibre spinning technologies. The adaptation of these technologies will allow the reindustrialisation of the textile industry of staple fibre processing and spinning, both in the Valencian Community and in Spain, diversifying its traditional markets.

This is a broad area of research, with great potential for innovation which, consequently, will contribute to implementing a new model of circular economy in the composites industry to the detriment of the current unsustainable model of linear economy and the problems of accumulation in landfills presented by this type of materials.

Objectives

The main objective of the project is the reuse of carbon fibres for the generation of textile products, through carding, spinning and weaving processes, which are subsequently used for the manufacture of thermoplastic composites.

In order to achieve the above objective, the following specific objectives are proposed within the framework of the project:

• Optimisation of the fibre opening and carding processes with recycled carbon fibre.
• Obtaining and optimising hybrid yarns of recycled carbon fibre and thermoplastic matrices from different staple fibre spinning processes.
• Obtaining and optimisation of recycled carbon fibre and thermoplastic matrix nonwovens by means of carding technology (Drylaid) and various consolidation techniques.
• Development and obtaining of openwork fabrics with different weaves from recycled carbon fibre and thermoplastic matrix hybrid yarns.
• Development and characterisation of prototypes from thermoplastic composites based on recycled carbon fibre with the woven and non-woven textile structures developed.

This project is supported by the Conselleria d’Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius, Comerç i Treball de la Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE. (IMAMCI/2021/1)