TPAC & TPRC Introduce TPC‑Cycle: Sustainable Recycling for High‑Performance Thermoplastic Composites

The ThermoPlastic composites Application Center (TPAC, Enschede, the Netherlands) and the Thermoplastic Research Centre (TPRC, Enschede, the Netherlands) have developed a new recycling process for thermoplastic composites.

Known as TPC-Cycle, the project targets production scrap by developing a recycling route for high-end and high volume markets. The objective is to retain the high mechanical properties of thermoplastic composites and reduce the overall environmental impact at affordable cost. The project includes the process from waste collection to shredding, reprocessing and application. The recycling solution boasts short cycle times, net-shape manufacturing and is said to enable the production of complex shapes. According to TPAC, high mechanical properties are obtained by retaining long fiber lengths. Three demonstrators for aerospace parts are currently being developed to show the application in a high value market.

Run by the research centers TPAC and TPRC, the collaboration includes several industrial partners in the value chain, from material, manufacturing, design and application. GKN Aerospace Fokker Business (Redditch, UK), TenCate Advanced Composites (Nijverdal, The Netherlands), Cato Composite Innovations (Rheden, The Netherlands), Dutch Thermoplastic Components (Almere, The Netherlands) and Nido RecyclingTechniek (Nijverdal, The Netherlands). The project is facilitated by Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Deventer, the Netherlands) and with the financial support of Regieorgaan SIA, part of The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

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TPRC will also be presenting at Carbon Fiber 2018. Learn more about the event at carbonfiberevent.com.