Within the TOSCA project, CIDETEC is contributing to the development of more sustainable solutions for composite recycling through a chemical recycling process for carbon fibre-reinforced composites based on 3R vitrimer resin.
This work focuses on separating the carbon fibre reinforcement from the polymer matrix under relatively mild operating conditions. The process uses a green solvent and a treatment temperature of 160°C, providing a more sustainable approach to recycling high-performance composite material.
Optimisation of the process has already yielded promising results at lab scale: carbon fibres were recovered in good condition and with no organic residues remaining on their surface after treatment. This demonstrates that the vitrimer matrix can be effectively removed while preserving the integrity of the fibre reinforcement.
These findings highlight the potential of the TOSCA project to advance high-quality carbon fibre recovery through milder and more sustainable recycling processes.
