Project Details
Projekt
Design for recycling by dehybridization (DeHyb) - material and life cycle analysis of the circulation processes of fibre-metal laminates
Subject Area
Polymeric and Biogenic Materials and Derived Composites
Term
since 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 542277658
In the recycling process for carbon fibre-reinforced plastics, downcycling is unavoidable today: the plastic matrix is lost in the commonly used pyrolysis process. The fibres are weakened and the processability becomes more complicated. To take into account the energy- and cost-intensive production as well as ecological aspects, it is expedient to use consolidated composites for as long as possible. To allow the reuse of the composites components or the transfer to fibre reclamation processes, it is necessary to develop separation concepts for FRP. The aim of this project is therefore to develop a novel, sustainable design-for-recycling concept for hybrid fibre-metal laminates (FML) with an activatable interlayer. Two designs are being investigated as part of the project: a thermoplastic-based, non-reactive intermediate layer and an activatable, reactive adhesive layer between the metallic and the fibre-reinforced, duromer-based component. These novel concepts not only enable the implementation of a weight-optimised, high-performance hybrid material, but also reveal new potential for end-of-life use. For this purpose, at the end of the use cycle, the intermediate layer is thermally or chemically weakened and the two laminate constituents can be detached with minimal effort. This enables a return to the original material concept. Comprehensive material characterisation pursue the goals of fully understanding the mechanical material properties, the damage behavior and the influence of the interlayers in the use phase. In addition, the performance of recycling-optimised FMLs is investigated. In parallel, the production, use and end-of-life are examined by a life cycle assessment. The material cycles of the FRP and metal components and their potentials through separability are analysed and weak points are identified. In this context, the classical procedure of life cycle assessment is critically questioned and further developed to meet the requirements for composite and hybrid materials and to develop an optimised procedure for these materials.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
Co-Investigators
Professor Dr.-Ing. Frank Henning; Benjamin Schwan; Professor Dr.-Ing. Kay A. Weidenmann
