Discover MC4, a European project for the circularity and performance of carbon and glass fiber composites value chains

MC4 (Multi-level Circular Process Chain for Carbon and Glass Fibre Composites) is a European partnership aiming at establishing circular approaches for carbon and glass fibre composites. These materials are essential in many technical applications, for which their lightness and high performance properties are particularly appreciated (transportation, sports equipment...). However, the European value chains for carbon and glass fibers need to be optimized on two major levels: environmental impact and economic impact.

 

Currently, up to 40% of materials are transformed into waste in the production process. After a lifespan of 15 to 30 years, 98% of materials end up in a landfill with no hope of being recycled[1]. With an annual usage of approximately 110,000 tons of carbon fiber composite parts[2] and 4.5 million tons of glass fiber composites[3], it is necessary to consider the environmental impact.

 

In addition to these environmental issues, Europe's current competitive position in these value chains must be improved. It must be less dependent on foreign sources. Indeed, 80% of virgin carbon and glass fiber manufacturing is done outside Europe. And when this manufacturing is done in Europe, the technologies are often licensed to foreign companies[4].

 

MC4 will address these issues by implementing research and innovation actions that take into account the specific needs of both value chains, to:

• Establish a multi-level circular process for carbon and glass fiber composites, with processes developed for short and long term impact on the industry.
• Develop efficient and economically realistic processes, adapted to the specificities of both value chains.
• To give the European industry the means to master and own its patented processes for the manufacture of recycled materials.

 

More specifically, the MC4 project will base the development of recycling processes on chemical matrix/fiber separation for carbon fiber, and on a new type of resin for direct reuse of composite material for glass fiber. As a result, and with the use of appropriate quality assessment of the recycled material, MC4 will implement processes to achieve a 60% recycling rate in the supply chains. Thus, it will ensure the possibility to properly use recycled materials in different application areas.

 

MC4 is fully funded by the European Union, under the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-01. MC4 started on April 1, 2022, and will end in March 2025.

 

In order to achieve its objectives, MC4 brings together 15 partners covering the whole value chain: process developers, material manufacturers, end users manufacturing composite parts. The combination of the partners' skills and know-how will enable the collaborative creation of a sustainable and viable circular process for composites. The consortium is coordinated by Profactor.

 

The partners of the MC4 project are Profactor (Austria), FIDAMC (Spain), GAIKER (Spain), CIDETEC (Spain), STFI (Germany), 3B Fibreglass (Belgium), VDL Fibertech Industries (Netherlands), CEA (France), Techtera (France), Amura (Spain), Managing Composites (Spain), IRES (Greece), LAB23 (Italy), Chomarat (France), and i-RED (Austria).

 

 

[1] https://www.materialstoday.com/composite-processing/features/new-lease-of-life-for-cfrps/, accessed on 01/08/2021

[2] Carbon fibres: history, players and forecast to 2020, JEC Composites Publications

[3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/759404/worldwide-glass-fibre-demand-and-capacity/, accessed on 01/08/2021

[4] Carbon fibre 2020 (Knoxville, Tenn, US) Preconference seminar by Tony Roberts, AJR Consultancy

 

 

MC4's website: https://www.mc4-project.eu

MC4's LinkedIn profile :  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mc4-project/

 

Contact

Project coordinator: Christian Eitzinger,  Christian.Eitzinger@profactor.at