Mechanical recycling

Recycling that breaks polymers down into monomers, oligomers or other chemical feedstocks, for example by solvolysis or pyrolysis, so that new polymer can be made or embedded fibres recovered. It is a key route for reclaiming carbon fibre from manufacturing waste and end-of-life composite components.

Material recovered from waste and reprocessed into a raw material for manufacturing, such as polymer granulate produced from post-consumer or post-industrial plastic. The quality and consistency of recyclate determine whether it can substitute virgin material in demanding applications.

Recycling in which the recovered material is of lower quality or value than the original, so it can only be used in less demanding applications. Mixed glass fibre composite waste, for example, is often downcycled into filler or aggregate rather than new structural laminate.

Carbon fibre reclaimed from manufacturing waste or end-of-life components, usually by pyrolysis or solvolysis, and supplied in chopped, milled or nonwoven mat forms. It is generally shorter and less consistent than virgin fibre, so it suits nonstructural and semi-structural applications where full aerospace-grade properties are not required.