CIDETEC Surface Engineering promotes new technologies for chemical and mixed recycling of composites in COMAR project

In collaboration with INCOM and SOFITEC, it will develop new and more sustainable composite materials for sectors such as wind energy, transport, construction and aeronautics.

The COMAR project focuses on the search for new ways of recycling and reusing waste from composites based on thermosetting and glass-ceramic matrices, through different chemical recycling techniques, such as pyrolysis and solvolysis.

The aim of the project is to develop new products for the construction, wind energy and transport sectors from materials obtained from the recycling of composite waste, using conditions that allow the mechanical properties of the fibres obtained to be preserved or re-established if necessary. The by-products obtained, for example, in processes such as solvolysis, will give rise to the formation of new matrices that can be used in these sectors or others of interest.

The aim is to:

• Establish innovative routes for the reuse and recycling of waste from composites, trying to minimise energy consumption and maximise the properties of the recovered fibres.
• Improve the sustainability of the composites industry with the revaluation of by-products.
• To reduce the environmental impact of the solvolysis and pyrolysis processes through research into the use of catalysts.
• To have a waste recovery strategy for each application.
• Promote the circular economy in the composites sector.
• To promote digitalisation and Industry 4.0 in the composites sector in order to improve productivity, quality and costs.

CIDETEC Surface Engineering collaborates with INCOM and SOFITEC:

Together with INCOM, CIDETEC is working on the creation of new generation 3R glassy resin composites, fully recyclable, from recovered fibres and cores. These materials will be validated by INCOM in the manufacture of prototypes for sectors such as wind energy, transport and construction.

On the other hand, the collaboration between CIDETEC and SOFITEC is aimed at the aeronautical sector, where the use of more sustainable composites is also being explored. CIDETEC is in charge of recovering high added-value carbon fibres from first-generation composites based on 3R glassy resins for reuse in new second-generation composites.

The COMAR project, funded by the CDTI through the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2021-2027, advances towards sustainability and the reduction of environmental impact in the composites industry, promoting the circular economy in this sector.