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A Korean institute is offering an eco-friendly and low-cost CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastics) recycling technology for technology transfer.

Country of Origin: South Korea
Reference Number: TOKR20180704001
Publication Date: 4 July 2018

Summary

A Korean institute is offering an eco-friendly and low-cost chemical recycling methods for epoxy based carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) using aqueous solvent with mild recycling condition.The institute is looking for a European partner available for license or technical cooperation agreement.

Description

For a purpose of improving fuel economy through weight reduction in cars or airplanes, CFRP (arbon fiber reinforced plastic) consumption has been increasing drastically. 
The end of life CFRP waste and the scrap came from manufacturing process contain high-volume carbon fiber that is expensive. If they are not to be recycled, it would be a waste of high-priced useful resources as well as it would cause environmental pollution.

However, there are some recycling issues on CFRP applied to automobiles which are as follows.

- Sustainable manufacturing cost
- Waste of valuable resource
- Environmental pollution
- Lowering properties, limitation of application

Therefore, this Korean research institute specializing in the development of the composite materials has developed the new CFRP recycling technology.

This recycled carbon fiber maintains more than 90% of the strength of virgin carbon fiber, shows a high electrical conductivity and has the same surface composition to virgin carbon fiber. Also, it uses 15% energy of the new carbon fiber production by consuming lower energy than pyrolysis method.

The institute wants to find an European partner that is available for technology cooperation such as technology transfer or license agreement to make good use of its offered technology. Further details regarding cooperation types are negotiable.

Advantages and Innovations

- Uses water as a recycling medium
- Uses inexpensive chemical additive: under 0.1 EUR/kg
- Mild operation condition: at 60 ~150 degree Celsius, 1 atm(atmosphere) ~ 8 atm.
- Most low-cost effective recycling cost (including chemical and electric cost ): under 1.2 EUR/kg
- No exhaust gases as like CO2(carbon dioxide) or dioxin
- Does not use expensive equipment
- Use 15% energy of the new carbon fiber production

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Stage Of Development Comment

TRL 8

Requested partner

- Type of partner sought : Company
- Specific area of activity of the partner : In the field of composite materials that is related to automobiles or others
- Task to be performed : Technology transfer (License agreement, Technical cooperation agreement) without the Asia region

Cooperation offer is closed for requests