AIRECOMP

TITLE OF THE PROJECT:

AIReComp – Research on recycling and recovery processes for composite aeronautical parts and structures.

GENERAL DATA:

Program: CIRCULAR ECONOMY DGA
Part number: EC-06-2022
RESOLUTION Date: 11/16/2022
Execution date: 01/09/2022-30/09/2024

PRESENTATION AND OBJECTIVES:

The project objectives are to learn which recovery, recycling and valorization processes are the most effective for composite materials in the aeronautics sector, depending on the constituent matrices and reinforcement systems.

The basis of the project’s objective will focus on the recovery and recycling of composite materials (which are part of some of the main structural components of aircraft) using both mechanical and chemical processes for their reuse. The aim is to investigate sustainable methods for recycling and reuse of composite materials from aeronautical components, considering the main ways to achieve circularity according to the R6 strategy: Reuse, Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacturing, Reuse and Recycling. The recovery of the materials used in these components will achieve a reduction in waste, due to the transformation into high value-added products.

With this central objective in mind, the following specific objectives are proposed:

• Identification of recycling and recovery routes for composite materials.
• Definition of separation and washing processes prior to recycling processes.
• Initially, two recycling routes are contemplated: chemical and mechanical.
• Selection of the mechanical recycling process.
• Commissioning at laboratory level.
• Mechanical and physical-chemical characterization of the material recovered and recycled by mechanical processes (washing and crushing). Definition of properties and study of applications and use.
• Selection of the most suitable chemical-thermal recycling process adapted to the starting material: optimized pyrolysis, solvolysis, thermal decomposition…
• Laboratory/pilot start-up of the selected chemical-thermal recycling process.
• Characterization of obtained monomers and other materials from chemical-thermal recycling (fibers and other additives).
• Process scaling

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES:

Aviation International Recycling SL
Aragon Institute of Technology

BUDGET:

TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: 725,178 €.
TOTAL BUDGET ITAINNOVA: 226,500 €.

FINANCING:

TOTAL PROJECT GRANT: 325,000 €.
TOTAL FINANCING ITANNOVA: 101.497,51 €.

The AIRECOMP project whose reference is EC-06-2022 has been financed by
Department of Economy, Planning and Employment of the Government of Aragon.