CaRMA - Carbon fiber recycled nonwovens in a multi-material approach

Multi-material nonwovens based on recycled carbon fibers, supplemented by additional functional or structural material components, represent a significant advance in the field of sustainable material innovations. Against the background of ecological, economic and political conditions, the challenges associated with carbon fiber-containing waste materials have become a crucial task on the way to a circular economy.

Particularly in industries such as the rapidly growing wind energy sector and the developing mobility solutions of the automotive and aerospace industries, the focus is shifting to the recycling of construction materials. The use of recycled carbon fibers as the basis for nonwovens not only provides an environmentally friendly alternative, but also enables waste reduction and resource conservation, and the integration of additional functional or structural material components into these multi-material nonwovens makes them versatile. These materials can be designed to meet the specific needs of different industries. This flexible approach opens up new possibilities for innovative applications, whether in the construction of lightweight and robust components for the aerospace industry or in the development of efficient energy solutions for wind power. 

Advancing research and development in the field of multi-material nonwovens based on recycled carbon fibers not only minimizes the environmental footprint, but also strengthens the competitiveness of the industries involved. This approach helps promote a circular economy while creating innovative solutions for the challenges of the future.

Broader range of services thanks to innovative multi-material approach

The "CaRMA" research project, in which AUTEFA Solutions participated as a partner, utilized the intrinsically high number of material parameters within a technical nonwoven. In an innovative multi-material approach, recycled carbon fibers were mixed with additional structural or functional fiber components, such as natural, glass or aramid fibers. This approach significantly expands the performance spectrum of the resulting materials.

This also potentially opens up new fields of application, whereby optimized, application-specific material variants can be developed using this approach. The comprehensive utilization potential thus promotes an ecologically sensible and at the same time economically viable use of material resources in this high-tech environment.

Optimized solutions for AUTEFA customers

The primary target group that will benefit most from the research results of the CaRma project are all AUTEFA Solutions' customers who want to produce predictable and engineered products with highly oriented (carbon) nonwovens. Our customers can benefit from the innovative findings and technologies of the project to optimize their product development and to produce high quality nonwovens for specific applications.

In addition, the results of the project show that not only nonwovens made of synthetic fibers can be classified, but also those made of natural fibers and their blends. This finding expands the potential target group of our customers to include nonwovens manufacturers and processors who rely on sustainable materials and want to make their product range more environmentally friendly. This not only benefits companies in the high performance fiber sector, but also AUTEFA Solutions' customers who rely on versatile and environmentally conscious nonwoven solutions.

Team sitting together at the conference table

Results of note for the future

The result is remarkable: not only synthetic, but also nonwovens made of natural fibers and blends can be classified. In the innovative multi-material approach, recycled carbon fibers were blended with additional structural or functional fiber components (e.g. glass, natural, aramid fibers). This significantly extends the performance range of the new material. Due to the improved processability, additional fields of application can potentially be opened up.

With increasing technological understanding, application-specific optimized material variants are possible along the chosen approach. The wide range of potential applications thus supports the economically viable and ecologically sound use of the resource material in this high-tech environment.

Contact

AUTEFA Solutions Germany GmbH
Paul-Lenz-Strasse 1b
86316 Friedberg . Germany
T: +49 821 2608 0
germany(at)autefa.com

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