Abstract
Keywords: composite separation, recycling technologies, eco-efficiency , multi-pass reuse, savings
In recent years, there has been a steady growth in the use of multi-layer composites for interior parts, in response to the need for reductions in car weight and fuel consumption, demands for higher security standards, and a desire for design flexibility and variation.
WIPAG has developed innovative separation technologies affording high purity reclamation of thermoplastics from such multi-layer composites, such that re-use in the original component applications is now possible. Theoretical and practical investigations have shown that the recovered thermoplastics are capable of re-use without appreciable attribute loss.
Today long glass fibre reinforced polypropylenes are employed increasingly as carrier material in dashboards. With such material, concerns have existed that a use of recyclate, with associated contraction of the fibre length, could detract from material properties. WIPAG studies have demonstrated that this effect can be mitigated effectively.
WIPAG's investigations show that a gentle conditioning of long glass fibre reinforced materials yields positive effects and that material re-use can lead to improved attributes of a component.
In contrast to the disposal of plastics waste by landfill, almost every recycling process contributes to saving of primary energy resources and to reducing the amount of waste. Accordingly, by closed-loop recycling, the resource utilisation efficiency increases and the eco-efficiency of a product is demonstrably improved.
With increasing raw material prices and costs for disposal or landfill, recycling of production scrap and reduction of waste are becoming more and more economically important. WIPAG's recycling technologies, when used in commercial manufacturing processes, successfully allow the re-use of engineering plastics in the original component application, with important achievements in both cost savings and environmental impact.