Improving recyclability of thermoset composite materials through a greener recycling technology based on reversible biobased bonding materials.
Programme: BBI-JU – BBI.2020.SO2.R3
Duration: 48 months. June 2021 to May 2025
Partners: Fundación AITIIP (Coordinator), Specific Polymers, Acondicionamiento Tarrasense Associacion, University of Limerick, German Institutes of Textile and Fibre Research Denkendorf, WEVERIJ FLIPTS EN DOBBELS NV, BCircular Composites S.L., Consorcio Aeródromo Aeropuerto de Teruel, ACCIONA Construcción S.A., Ingeniería y Desarrollos en Composite, S.L., Juno Composites Ltd., Laboratori Archa SRL and Q-PLAN International Advisors.
More Information: vibesproject.eu
Objetive: The VIBES project aims to develop an innovative and cost-efficient green technology solution to resolve the end-of-life issues of thermoset composites, decreasing the amount of non-biodegradable polymers sent to disposal or discharged to the environment by at least 40%. The project will develop a recycling solution that combines material science developments and a green chemistry recycling technology.
To reach its purpose, VIBES will initially focus on the controlled separation and recovery of composite material components by means of developing customised 100% Biobased Bonding Materials (BBM). In addition, the project will design and develop biobased thermoset composites, with the intention to place industrial biobased and recyclable substituent composite materials in the market. The developed materials will be validated for optimum performance/ cost ratio in 3 high-demand industrial sectors: aeronautical, construction and naval industries.
Finally, a greener, fast, economic, and non-toxic recycling technology to treat the smart VIBES composites will be developed and implemented at pilot level. As a result, the decomposed materials will be recovered and valorised as new feedstocks for the development of new products. The whole system will be defined, from the dismantling of the parts of the composite, to collecting and directing to the recycling plant, receiving, handling and sorting of the materials.
The VIBES consortium, led by AITIIP (Spain), is comprised of 2 other Research & Technology Organisations and 1 University (LEITAT, DITF and the University of Limerick), 7 Small and Medium Enterprises (Specific Polymers, BCIRCULAR, FLIPS & DOBBELS, IDEC, Juno Composites, ARCHA, Q-PLAN International), 1 Large Company (ACCIONA Construccion), and 1 Public Body (Teruel International Airport PLATA).
This project has received funding from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, under Grant Agreement N° 101023190. |
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