Recycled polyurethane and carbon fiber

As manufacturing industries search for ways to embrace the principles of the circular economy, it becomes increasingly important to find innovative and practical ways to recycle and reuse materials that would have otherwise been wasted or sent to landfills — like rigid polyurethane foam and carbon fiber composites.

Material recycling and re-use

Advances in technology and the creativity of our research and development team have resulted in our ability to efficiently handle these materials whether mechanically or chemically recycled, and return them to your production process.

Because these recycled materials possess qualities equivalent to their virgin counterparts, they are excellent choices for the same applications, and offer companies a chance to improve their overall environmental footprint without compromising product quality.
We are proud to be at the forefront of equipment that can process these promising materials.

Recycling polyurethane

There are two basic technologies for recycling polyurethane: mechanical recycling uses polyurethane that has been ground into powder, or granulated, and allows it to be reused as a filler; chemical recycling uses polyol obtained through chemical recycling, re-inserting it back into the dosing and mixing process.

Our machines can be equipped to properly use recycled polyurethane. The process varies depending on if the material was recycled chemically or mechanically; the former technology allows recycled liquid polyol to be metered directly by the dosing unit and mixed in the head, while the latter requires premixing as a filler before being sent to a special mixing head.

Production scraps — obtained during the manufacturing of continuous panels, for example — can be collected, ground in a powder, and reintroduced into the production line to be used in new panels. The grinding technique, preparing the filled resin and metering it to the mixing heads is Cannon’s established and proprietary technology.

Another new technology has been developed and tested with rigid foams, as well as with scraps taken from end of life refrigerator insulation, which can be used to create new VIP panels with performances much higher than foam itself, and unparalleled in comparison to other types of VIP panels.

Reusing carbon fiber from recycled composites

Carbon fiber composites present a unique challenge for recycling procedures. They can be recycled mechanically, chemically, and through pyrolysis, each method presenting different features to recover the inner carbon fiber from the composite.

Chemical recycling, while possible, remains elusive as we try to find the perfect solution for removing the resin without causing too much damage to the carbon fibers; pyrolysis, in comparison, remains effective in separating the matrix from the carbon fiber sheets without forming chemical waste.

Our solution allows clients to use carbon fibers that have been recovered in mat or felt forms with various thicknesses (recycled mechanically). These can be re-impregnated alone or covered by a surface layer of carbon fiber fabric with the same aesthetic and mechanical characteristics as the original material.

When the recycled carbon fiber is in the form of powder it can be fed directly into the mixing head and blended with the polyol before being applied.

Are you looking for a tailored solution?

Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and find out how our custom solutions can enhance your production process. Don’t wait — let’s create excellence together!

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