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Sustainable Composites

R&D

The Achilles heel of composites is their recyclability. Tonnes of waste from wind blades, aircraft parts, etc. are accumulated at the end of their life cycle. At GAIKER, we research the recovery of such carbon and glass fibre waste in new formulations and applications. We are also working on incorporating more sustainable resins and fibres into composite manufacturing processes.

We develop composites based on acrylic thermoplastic liquid resins and fibres to obtain:
- Thermoplastic prepregs and SMCs
- Parts made by RTM infusion with recyclable resins
- Tapes and organosheets

Composites with natural and renewable thermosetting resins
Composites with recyclable thermosetting resins
Composites with UV Cured resins
Thermoplastic Composites
Recycling and Circular Economy of Composites to obtain intermediate products from recycled fibres:
- Mats/felts
- Pellets
- Tapes
- SMC

Major Projects

Strategic cooperation on technologies for the circular economy of composites and complex high-added-value plastic materials. OSIRIS

The main aim of this Network of Excellence is to be a national and international benchmark in terms of developing recycling technologies for composite materials and complex plastic mixtures, and reformulating products with high added value from recycled composite materials, acting as a driving force for the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System as a whole.

This project is funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI by its Spanish acronym), through the Ministry of Science and Innovation, within the framework of aid for the “Cervera” Technology Centres of Excellence. CER-20211009

Multi-level circular process chain for carbon and glass fibre composites. MC4

GAIKER is involved in developing the solvolysis chemical recycling process and scaling it up, and in constructing parts made of carbon fibre from recycled material or from reusing uncured pre-impregnated offcuts by moulding them.

Recycling technologies for the circular reuse and remanufacturing of fibre-reinforced composite materials. RECREATE

The aim of this project is to develop a set of innovative technologies aimed at exploiting the potential of complex end-of-life (EoL) composite waste as a raw material for the cost-effective re-use of parts and materials in industry.

Connected car services through functional electronics embedded in components made of recycled and 100% recyclable materials. ACEFICORE

The need for lightweighting and the incorporation of integrated functionalities into the components of new generations of vehicles makes the use of recycled and recyclable composites increasingly attractive. As a result, plastics are considered to be indispensable materials in modern car design.

Cradle-to-Cradle composites. C2CC

The C2CC project is carrying out research into cleavable composite materials based on new basalt-derived mineral fibres associated with innovative biomass-derived thermosetting resins. These composite materials were chemically ‘decomposed’ to recover thermoplastic resins and fibres. The C2CC project demonstrates the technical viability of this concept on real automotive components and the fulfilment of the expectations of the automotive industry and production facilities.

This project received funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, as part of the European Commission's Horizon 2020 research and development programme under contract number 1805.

Upcycling in the transport and construction sector of prepreg offcuts and composite parts. UP-RECOMP

The aim of the project is to develop structural panels for applications in road transport vehicles and in formwork panels, which incorporate agglomerates made from recycled material from industrial composite waste in their core, thereby reducing composite waste and improving their environmental impact. GAIKER's lines of research are geared towards developing and characterising structural panels.

Recovery of carbon fibre waste into intermediate and final products with high added value in various industrial sectors. C-RECYCLING II

Development of processes to industrialise and include new intermediate and final products based on recycled carbon composite in the market, and consequently boost the recycled carbon fibre industry in the Basque Country.

Development of value-added applications from prepreg waste and carbon fibre composites from the aeronautical sector. C-RECYCLING I

Development of more cost-effective carbon composites for the automotive sector. Two demonstration prototypes will be made using carbon fibre waste from the aeronautical sector, the final applications of which will be aesthetic and structural components for the automotive sector.

Would you like to talk to an expert?

Juan Ramón Alonso

Sustainable Composites & Functional Polymers Market Manager

Sustainable Composites

R&D

Major Projects

Would you like to talk to an expert?

Juan Ramón Alonso

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