Research organisation Empa have succeeded in making material used on aircraft and trains fully recyclable.
The interior materials used in aircraft construction must meet specific safety requirements, meaning they must be flame retardant, lightweight, robust and scalable.
The substance is a multi-layered ‘sandwich’ and has a honeycomb-type structure in the centre which is made of aramid, a heat-resistant polymer. The stable and lightweight core is covered on top and bottom with several flat-woven layers of glass or carbon fibre.
Sabyasachi Gaan, Empa Researcher, said: “Our material complies with fire safety regulations and achieves nearly the same advantageous mechanical properties as conventional epoxy.
“But for the first time, it allows for complete recycling of the composite material.”
With the correct solvent and little heat, the ‘sandwich’ can be broken down again into the honey comb and woven fibres. These materials are expensive, meaning that recycling them creates an economical attraction.
The researchers have now explored the potential for industrial application for the first time as they say the next step is to further scale up production and recycling.
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