Formosa Plastics develops material solution of sustainable reshaping recycled carbon fibre composites

The world is moving towards a circular economy and net-zero emissions. Post-consumer products are looked forward to remaining in the value chain for recycling, including carbon fibre composites. The recyclability of materials solution is critical for the industry that is more energy-saving, carbon-reducing and environmentally friendly.

Formosa Plastics Corporation collaborates with Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) to develop material solution, an intermediate material of recycled carbon fibre/polycarbonate (PC) thermoplastic composites, which is using state-of-the-art polycarbonate fibre spinning technology, combined dry homogeneous hybrid nonwoven technology with recycled carbon fibre. It’s a nonwoven material made of recycled carbon fibre blended with thermoplastic PC fibre. In addition to using recycled carbon fibre, the combination could be post- consumer recycled PC and flame-retardant PC as well. PC fibre represents the polymer matrix for impregnation and consolidation, which means there is no longer necessary for the addition of extra matrix resin.

The material has the characteristics of recycling and reshaping. It is lightweight, strong and meets customer’s requirements for various application, such as consumer electronics and sporting goods. It opens the way to manufacture complex shapes in a thermal pressing step, or combining sheet forming and injection moulding without further steps for the production of parts, which helps reduce the cycle time, manufacturing cost and also CO₂ emissions. It has a positive effect on the life cycle assessment of products. Formosa has been dedicated to offering eco-friendly products and recycling solutions for customers, will continue to the efficient development of the sustainable solution.

Cover photo: Formosa Plastics.