Due to its high strength and light weight, carbon fiber has a wide range of applications in aerospace, automotive and energy industries. However, higher costs limit the use of it by many manufacturers.
Vartega is a new technology company headquartered in Colorado. The company is trying to change this situation. Its team has developed a new carbon fiber recycling process that will promote the sustainable development and popularization of carbon fiber.
In an R&D magazine interview, Vartega's CEO and founder, Andrew Maxey, said: 'Carbon fiber is a valuable material. It was very wasteful for people to treat it as rubbish and landfill. However, people used to do this. Our research can retain the carbon fiber value and allow it to be reused. Recycling carbon fiber is much simpler than manufacturing the original carbon fiber. Therefore, recycling carbon fiber is more cost-effective. We use this material to further reduce the cost of downstream applications.
How does it work?
Most of Vartega's raw materials come from high-grade pre-impregnated carbon fiber waste. For example, the scrap rate of materials used in the aviation industry is usually 30%. Expensive waste materials are recycled and reused to reduce the value loss and maximize the carbon fiber environment. Benefits. Waste carbon fiber in aerospace structures can be used in aircraft interiors, automotive applications, consumer electronics and sporting goods.
This recycling process can remove thousands of tons of garbage from landfills each year, and provide downstream consumers with cheaper carbon fiber products, otherwise they may not be able to afford it.
Maxey said: 'We can use uncured post-industrial carbon fiber waste and remove as much resin as possible. Once we do this, we get a dry, regenerated carbon fiber that has the same mechanical properties as the original carbon fiber.'
How carbon fiber is recycled depends on its original state. Continuous carbon fibers, whether woven or aligned in the same direction, can be recycled and maintain their fiber length. When carbon fibers are cut from the model, production waste is essentially chopped. And added to thermoplastics.
Maxey explained: 'In this case, the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber are still the same, but due to the different lengths of the fiber, the properties of the composite may vary. Discontinuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics have different characteristics than continuous fiber composites. Performance. '
application
Maxey said: 'Vartega has begun to divide itself into several parts. The company invented its own 3D printer filament, which contains recycled carbon fiber, the product has entered the market. The idea behind this product is for those interested in 3D printing. The average person offers affordable carbon fiber options.
Maxey said: 'It has very good print quality, simple operation and good mechanical properties. We think this is a very exciting area. Amateurs and manufacturers can buy recycled materials, but they have The same good performance as the new material. '
Vartega has partnered with companies in a number of industries, including Alchemy Bicycle Co., Ltd. in Colorado, which uses Vartega's technology to make the bike's life longer. Maxey said: 'Their carbon-fiber bicycle frame is handmade, we recycle their waste, and then manufacture and provide 3D printed parts for them, which can be applied to the design of bicycle prototypes and new parts.'
Vartega is also dedicated to the use of recycled carbon fiber in the automotive industry , Including injection molding, under the hood, as well as internal and external body panels, etc. In the automotive industry, carbon fiber has very significant benefits.
Maxey said: 'You can use a small amount of carbon fiber to produce components with the same performance as aluminum or steel, which will help reduce the weight of the car, improve fuel economy, but also can enhance the storage capacity of a new generation of electric vehicles. The group can weigh up to several hundred pounds. There are also new technology devices like large screens, lidar sensors and other energy storage components. These devices are relatively heavy and heavy, so manufacturers must be interested in maintaining their original performance. Further reduce the weight of the vehicle. '
Vartega is also committed to the development of long-term projects and hopes to commercialize them in several other areas. Their goal is to operate carbon fiber recycling facilities between the two main domestic markets, the main supplier and the source of waste, within the next five years.
Maxey said: 'Our technology is modular, which allows us to locate the source of waste, but also close to the customer. In the next 12 to 24 months, we will deploy business systems here to support downstream customers and related needs. '