The goal of the project is the scaling up of the process for the recycled carbon fiber surface modification and thermoplastic compound manufacturing, thus leading to high performance eco-innovative composite materials. By the optimization of the RCF surface modification process and of the compounding process, carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics will be available for the automotive market, having properties similar to those of the virgin carbon fiber reinforced compounds, but with 75% fiber cost saving. The consequences will be a wider use of carbon fibers in automotive components, with a clear advantage in terms of automotive lightening.
The main environmental impact of the project is linked to the minimization of the pollution due to the carbon fiber manufacturing. The global carbon fibres demand is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10%, reaching 89kton in 2020. About 30% of the manufactured carbon fibres becomes industrial scrap. Moreover, current methods for manufacturing new carbon fibres are very energy intensive, while producing Recycled Carbon Fibres (RCF) by pyrolysis requires only 1/10 of the energy as compared to new carbon fibres. The project will foster a massive use of recycled carbon fibers, providing a clear advantage in terms of reduction of landfill waste and CO2 emissions. Another important environmental impact is relevant to the significant contribute that will be provided to solve the impelling need to reduce the CO2 emissions of the vehicles. The vehicles weight reduction is an immediate way to reduce the CO2 emissions, letting the reduction of fuel consumption.
 

Attività svolta da ENEA

L'ENEA coordina il progetto e partecipa al WP0 Feasibility Study relativo ad attività di valutazione tecnico-economico sulla sostenibilità del progetto (IPR strategy, business model e business plan); nel 2018 inoltre è coinvolta nel WP2 RCF treatment process optimization and sculing-up (messa a punto di opportuni sizing per fibre di carbonio da riciclo e scaling-up del relativo processo di deposizione).