With more than 160 member units, the United States Advanced Composites Manufacturing and Innovation Institute (IACMI), which is committed to increasing the domestic production capacity of the U.S. composites industry and creating more employment opportunities in the manufacturing industry, joins the University of Tennessee and the U.S. Department of Energy On October 16, it was announced that a new project will be launched to use the corner waste generated after the production of carbon fiber prepregs for automobiles is completed for other automotive applications. This project is hosted by Vartega, a newly established company focused on carbon fiber recycling technology. Other members of the project include Michelman, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Colorado State University of Mining, Michigan State University, University of Dayton Research Lab and University of Tennessee. The project also received funding from Ford, BASF and Plasan Carbon Composites.
The two-year project focuses on the research on the application of recycled carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites in automotive lightweighting. By adopting new technology, the project team characterizes and validates material properties to meet the growing demand for low-cost carbon fiber in the automotive lightweighting sector, continuously improving fuel efficiency, reducing exhaust emissions, and extending the range of electric vehicles.
Vartega CEO Andrew Maxey said, "In the past ten years, carbon fiber recycling technology has continued to mature, but there are still several challenges in materials in the automotive manufacturing field. We have recognized that we should develop a set of applications for recycling carbon fiber from a global perspective. Full-supply chain solution. Through the implementation of this project, we can prove the recycling economy feasibility of recycling carbon fiber by combining appropriate sizing agents and large-scale production technology of thermoplastic composite materials for the automotive industry. "
John Hopkins, CEO of the American Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing and Innovation (IACMI), said: "Commitment on recycling of composite materials and the promotion of cooperation between SMEs and large organizations are the Institute's long-standing tradition of development. This project will be used throughout the industry. Set a successful example in collaborative innovation of the chain and solving technical problems. "
In addition to the project, Vartega plans to install a commercial composite recycling facility at IACMI's engineering enlargement facility in Corktown, Detroit. The plant is only half a kilometer away from Michigan Central Station, which was recently acquired by Ford Motors Corp. to build the Corktown Electrification Park related to new and autonomous vehicles.